From a sponsored chair in a room deep within the world created by Daniel Levy, head coach Thomas Frank paid his own small tribute to Tottenham’s unseated ruler.
It started with the obligatory hat tip towards the ‘world-class’ training centre and stadium and how that primes the club for success, but beyond that, a life without Levy seemed to hold few differences for the Dane.
'Big news but I only really worked with him for three months,' shrugged Frank, who figured a shock split with owner Matthew Benham at Brentford would have felt more significant. 'I’ve said thank you. I know it’s not only him appointing me but he had probably the decisive words, so I can only appreciate that in every aspect.'
The head coach would not normally have expected much interaction with the board this week with the transfer window shut, but he found himself meeting with the new chairman Peter Charrington and members of the Lewis family now promising to take a more active interest in the club than billionaire patriarch Joe ever did.
'Good, constructive conversations,' said Frank. 'I feel the backing and they’re happy. They’re very committed and they want to build something good for the future.'
And there was no added pressure from a boardroom suddenly casting out messages about greater sporting success. 'We all want to win as much as possible,' said Frank.
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Others around Tottenham’s training centre near Enfield confessed eight days since the Levy bombshell had been surreal. The most powerful presence since the place was built had gone in a flash with few goodbyes. The dust settling, the true impact remained unclear.
Beyond Hotspur Way, Spurs fans have similar thoughts. Will Levy’s exit spark the changes they crave? Not only more trophies and more ambition but closer involvement in their club? Will their voices be heard? Will the culture be more transparent?
The large yellow anti-ENIC banners will be packed away for now and the Levy Out songs will fall silent, but the ownership structure has not changed. ENIC remain the majority shareholders, the club is definitely ‘not for sale’ it has been made clear, and Levy holds a stake worth nearly a third of ENIC.
So beady eyes will be kept out to see what really changes, to see if it is more than an elaborate rebranding exercise, with the toxic chairman replaced at the front and centre of the club by Vinai Venkatesham, a chief executive who oozes corporate charm.
The Lewises led by Joe’s daughter Vivienne will be more visible, starting at West Ham with more of the family expected for the Champions League tie at home to Villarreal on Tuesday.
'It’s about humanisation and that seems like a Vinai thing,' says Martin Cloake, season ticket holder and former co-chair of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust.
'He has an incredibly good reputation from his time at Arsenal and comes across as a much better communicator than Daniel ever was. You can say it’s all very slick and proof of the pudding is in the eating but if there’s going to be a more open culture there that’s a good thing.'
Vague promises about greater transparency have emerged post Levy. For one thing, it aligns with the open Scandinavian outlook of Frank and Tottenham’s technical director Johan Lange.
'It’s very important to be transparent and clear,' said Frank. 'What are we are dealing with? What is the ambition? Can we adjust expectations? Are we on the same page? What is the strategy? Are we aligned? That’s absolutely crucial.'
There is also a desire also to ease the burden of responsibility from the head coach as the club’s lone public voice. Ange Postecoglou and Antonio Conte both criticised the boardroom silence during their managerial tenures.
'It was time for change,' says Cloake. 'I spent eight years there banging my head against a wall along with other people trying to get the club to be more collegiate and listen to its fans more.
'And they weren’t particularly interested. To me, Spurs as an institution didn’t seem like a particularly happy place to work. I believe in idea that you get more out of people if you give them support and space to fail.
'There was a culture with everyone looking over their shoulders. Nobody really took any chances and that stifles creativity. Is it really going to change? I understand people are sceptical but you have to take people at their word without being naïve and see if it goes somewhere.'
Venkatesham appears big on soft glossy interviews from within the comfort of the club’s own media channels but has yet to field any independent questions from the national media.
However, having crossed the North London divide from a similar role at Arsenal he has made a positive impression on Spurs fans and attended a fans’ advisory board meeting on Tuesday.
'A lot of us are hopeful,' says Jay Coughlan of Change for Tottenham. 'As a protest group we won’t disappear. There are people not happy to see ENIC still in control but there has to a period where we give this the space to settle and observe.'
There are some easy wins available to the new regime. First and foremost, a long running dispute with supporters over the withdrawal of ticket concessions for over-65s.
It has been branded ‘immoral’ and ‘unethical’ by Save Our Seniors protesters and could be easily reversed. A price freeze on season tickets would be well-received, too. As would dialogue aimed at improving the atmosphere in the stadium, something Venkatesham did at Arsenal.
Then there’s performances on the pitch. The big one. Competing at the top by attracting talent and winning.
Spurs were booed off after losing at home to Bournemouth, a first defeat of the season in the final game of Levy’s 25 years in charge.
They go to London rivals West Ham on Saturday, with new signings Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani both available but the latter short of match fitness and unlikely to start.
Dominic Solanke is still out with an ankle injury, but this is more comfortable territory for Frank dealing with those sorts of issues and for the first time in a long time a Spurs team can go about their business without the sound of protest in the stands. West Ham, mind you, cannot say the same.
