Tottenham executive director Darren Eales to join new Atlanta based MLS franchise

Tottenham executive director Darren Eales has been confirmed as the club president of Major League Soccer’s new Atlanta-based franchise, the league has confirmed.

Eales, who joined Tottenham in 2010 – then under the title of director of football administration – was part of the club’s infamous transfer committee alongside Daniel Levy, Franco Baldini, Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood that oversaw Spurs’ mass recruitment drive in the lead up to Gareth Bale’s world record sale to Real Madrid.

That summer, Tottenham signed no fewer than seven players including the likes of Christian Erkisen, Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado.

Eales arrived at White Hart Lane from West Bromwich Albion, where he had previously held the role of legal director from 2006.

The Atlanta based franchise is due to join the MLS in 2017 and, in a statement of the league’s official website, Eales said: “I’m going to have the rare experience of getting to know the fans from the outset, and I’m eager to engage them in the process, from naming the team to creating an incredible atmosphere at our matches.

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity to have the support of a respected owner in Arthur Blank and the chance to field a team in a brand new state-of-the-art facility. MLS is going from strength to strength, and really making its mark, so it’s a privilege to be part of its expansion. I’m looking forward to being a part of MLS Atlanta and helping to make this a great success story.”

The announcement comes as another blow to the club, having been dealt a further setback in the development of their new 56,000 stadium.

The club confirmed this afternoon that, following Archway Sheet Metal Works Ltd and the Josif Family decision to exercise their right of appeal against the club’s Compulsory Purchasing Order, they are now ‘highly unlikely’ to move into the new stadium in time for the 2017-18 season.