"We have had people speaking all night with Daniel Levy. He talks a lot and goes back on what we've agreed in writing.  The things as they were at 5am were not the same at 10am. I think we have to make sure we get a certain amount of value because it's important that Hugo can go to a quality club that allows him to do himself justice from a value point of view, so that he can feel right about it.  At the moment we're talking about whether he can come back to say his goodbyes to the supporters, to his team-mates, so we can honour him, this truly great player and brilliant man.

I would put it at 50-50 that Hugo goes to Tottenham. Although from the outset we've submitted to agreements I would now put it at 50-50 that he'll be going there.  Agreements have not at all been respected. We've done what we can. Hugo has been troubled by the difficulty in these negotiations.  He's one of the best in Europe in his position. Our transfer window is open until 4 September but for Tottenham the English transfer window closes on 31 August. Either it happens tonight or not at all for Hugo Lloris.

It's been very, very difficult. I've got 25 years of experience as a president of a club and it's our 16th participation in a European competition in a row.  But this is very rare in the football world.  The negotiation with the Tottenham directors has been the hardest I have ever had to undergo in these 25 years.  We had email exchanges which have been contradicted, so that's made it very complicated. It's difficult. The Tottenham board's theory is to explain that the economic market is very hard and so we have to get used to renegotiating.  But for us, who are attached to a player of the quality of Hugo Lloris, and such is the value of the transfer, that causes us to ask questions.

He has agreed personal terms with Tottenham, he remains under that impression, but since we have had Hugo Lloris on the telephone for a long time overnight and this morning and he's completely undecided about what happens next.  We've been negotiating all night. The first negotiation was at the start of the window, about a month-and-a-half ago, through an intermediary who was a French lawyer, who lives in Lyon.  And then nothing for about a month-and-a-half. The negotiation then picked up again about a week ago."

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"I'm non-executive chairman at Spurs, but hope to have appointed someone else by the end of the season.  I'm not going to be one of those high-profile chairman - I'm pretty low key - and I'm not Alan Sugar's direct replacement.

Plenty of people have suggested that my support for Tottenham was behind ENIC's decision to take a 29.9% stake.  It's not true: I've followed the Spurs since I was eight years old, but I'm not a fanatical fan,  The decision was mad eon business grounds, but obviously, it is an advantage that I have been following the club for so long.

We wanted to buy a club in England and we decided early on that it should be in London.  With apologies, there are only three big clubs in London - Chelsea, arsenal and Tottenham - and Tottenham were available.  We want to bring back to White Hart Lane the tradition and sense of occasion that seems to have slipped away.  I think fans will see we'll be a caring owner. 

I know what it's like to be an ordinary supporter.  I realise how infuriating it is when my son can't get a packet of Maltesers at half-time because they've run out.  I know what it's like to walk down a corridor in the main stand and feel as if you are in jail as the walls are unpainted and bare.  There are corporate areas at White Hart lane with photographs on the wall but no captions; other areas have no pictures on the wall and nothing to signify the club's history.  They're important to a club's atmosphere.

Tottenham"

"Alan Sugar rescued Tottenham from bankruptcy, provided it with fantastic facilities, and the manner in which he was hounded from office was unfair.  Sir Alan faced the same challenges we do now - balancing the needs of shareholders, who want profit, with those of the fans, who want success on the pitch.  Sometimes the two do not go together.  It is a balancing act.  But Tottenham is a public company and regardless of who is on the board, it has to stand up for itself."

"Everybody has their favourite players - and I'm not giving away any secrets if I say Spurs heroes Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker are mine - but I've no intention of telling manager George Graham who he should select.  Everyone wants to see exciting, stylish football but most fans want one thing - to see us at the top of the league.  the balance between being cavalier and dour is a matter of opinion and typically every fan has a different opinion. 

While I won't tell George Graham who to pick, I will take an interest in the way we develop youngsters.  Investing in youth takes time, but is vital to the club's long-term stability and it's an area we want to put significant financial resources."

"Young players are important, but so are young fans.  When I first went to a Tottenham game with my uncle 30 years ago, I bought a large rosette - whatever happened to them ? - on my way, ate a hot dog and loved the experience, even though I ended up freezing.  Plenty of clubs have hiked up admission charges, leaving young supporters unable to afford to get into the game and that's short-term thinking.  Football must make sure it's tempting young fans through the gates because today's wide-eyed youngster is tomorrow's season ticket holder."

"For years, I've taken my usual seat in the West Stand.  Now I'll have to dress formally and watch from the director's box even though I'd rather be cheering from my normal seat."

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