TOTTENHAM Hotspur, the quoted Premier league football club controlled by Alan Sugar,
yesterday said it wanted to attract more institutional investors as it unveiled a leap in full-year pre-tax profits from £885,000 to £5.35m.
Finance director John Sedgwick said a rise in the dividend, due on November 13, from 1p to 3p was partly designed to catch the interest of institutions. He added that the club would soon announce the appointment of a stockbroker and would be resuming City presentations. "I think we need the option to raise money if business opportunities arise," he said.
Tottenham's profits have been distorted by various extraordinary costs in the last couple of years, such as a fine from the Football Association, but Mr Sugar said the result for the year to May reflected "the true potential of the company".
Profits from merchandising rose 78pc to £603,000. Mr Sugar said a new superstore was being
built, while the size of the existing souvenir shop would be quadrupled.
