Tension has been building around Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
However, ahead of one of the club’s most important games of the season, a group of supporters have chosen unity over protest.
Supporters’ organisation Change For Tottenham (CFT) has confirmed that it will postpone a planned protest against the club’s ownership before Sunday’s must-win Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
The group said the decision was made so fans can focus on supporting the team during what it described as a “generational threat” of relegation.
Tottenham claimed a crucial point against Liverpool in Sunday’s blockbuster at Anfield as a last-minute strike from Richarlison sealed a 1-1 draw.
It may have only been a point, but it could be crucial in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, Tottenham remain in 16th place, just one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham United.
Tottenham had already started exploring other managerial options after the Champions League last 16 first leg humiliation against Atletico Madrid.
The draw against Liverpool may have stayed their hand, but interim manager Igor Tudor is still threading a tight rope, especially with only eight games left this season.
The game against Forest could determine the fate of the Croatian manager.
The call to postpone the protest
Recognising the importance of next week’s must-win clash, CFT have also chosen to stay their hand and postpone the protest.
“Although this ownership and board don’t deserve it, we feel duty-bound to stand with other supporters’ groups and the fan collective generally at the Nottingham Forest game and have made the difficult decision to postpone any potential protest for this game,” said a CFT statement on Monday.
“In what feels like an immediate generational threat to Tottenham Hotspur’s status as a Premier League club, we are putting on hold any announced match-day protests for now, whilst continuing with our other initiatives. We will, however, continue monitoring the situation.
“This is a very difficult decision to make in light of the fact that the ownership are responsible for putting us in this perilous position, but first and foremost we are fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.”