Football: Turbulent times at Tottenham Hotspur

Nov 1982 Monaco-based Irving Scholar buys control of Tottenham, pounds 4 million in debt, and installs Douglas Alexiou as chairman.

Jun 1983 Tottenham announce aim to be first football club to be floated on Stock Exchange.

May 1984 Manager Keith Burkinshaw sacked after winning Uefa Cup. Replaced by Peter Shreeves.

Aug 1984 First annual meeting announces pre-tax profits of pounds 902,000 compared with pounds 168,000 for the previous 12 months.

May 1986 Shreeves sacked and David Pleat appointed manager.

Oct 1986 Spurs report loss of pounds 730,000, wiping out 1985 profit of pounds 653,000.

May 1987 Lose to Coventry in FA Cup Final.

Oct 1987 Loss cut to pounds 330,000. Pleat resigns and former player Terry Venables returns as manager. Bank debts mount to more than pounds 12m over next two years as ground development costs spiral and Hummel leisurewear firm slumps.

Jul 1989 Chris Waddle sold to Marseille for pounds 4.5m.

Aug 1990 Scholar has controversial dealings with Robert Maxwell in a bid to raise more funds. As a result Paul Bobroff is forced to resign as plc chairman but remains a director.

Jan 1991 Nat Solomon appointed chairman of Tottenham Hotspur plc and refuses to deny that club could cash in on sale of Paul Gascoigne.

Mar 1991 Venables launches unsuccessful pounds 20m bid for the club with Larry Gillick.

May 1991 Tottenham win the FA Cup, but Italy-bound Gascoigne ruled out for a year after rupturing knee ligaments in final.

Jun 1991 Alan Sugar confirmed as Venables' new backer. Maxwell tables fresh proposals, but Sugar and Venables secure the takeover of the club.

Jul 1991 Shreeves appointed team manager for second time with Venables chief executive.

Dec 1991 Company announces pounds 7m rights issue with Sugar taking holding to 47.8 per cent. Results for 1991 showed loss of pounds 2.9m, later revised to pounds 1.78m (1990 - pounds 1.01m). Trading restarted in shares after 14-month suspension.

May 1992 Gascoigne sold to Lazio for pounds 5.5m.

May 1992 Shreeves sacked again. Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence appointed in place.

Sep 1992 Club announces profit of pounds 2.66m.

May 1993 Venables voted out as chief executive but High Court injunction puts sacking on hold. Stock Exchange to investigate Venables after he reveals company set to make pounds 5m profit for year. Venables' financial adviser Eddie Ashby sacked by the club and director Jonathan Crystal, a Venables' supporter, asked to resign. He refuses. Sugar offers Venables 88p a share, the amount he paid two years ago, to buy him out. He rejects the bid as 'derisory'Jun 1993 Judge refuses to renew injunction against sacking after three-day hearing and orders Venables to pay Sugar's costs.