Spurs send strongly-worded letter to Premier League broadcasters demanding shock name change

Tottenham have sent a letter to Premier League broadcasters stating that they want to be referred to as a different name, it has been revealed.

Like many clubs in the Premier League and EFL, the club are often referred to as a shorter version of their official full name - Tottenham Hotspur.

There are a number of other examples of this both in the Premier League and further down the pyramid. West Bromwich Albion, for instance, are often referred to as West Brom, with Queens Park Rangers known as QPR.

On televised broadcasts and in the wider media, Tottenham are often referred to as 'Tottenham', or 'Spurs', but more rarely are they referred to as their full name.

Now, in a letter addressed to Premier League broadcasters and both seen and reported by The Athletic, the north London club have stated they want that to change.

The club now wants to be referred to as 'Tottenham Hotspur' or simply Spurs, with mentions of 'Tottenham' taken out of future coverage.

The letter reads: "Tottenham Hotspur have provided clarification regarding the club's name.

"They have requested that the club are primarily known as Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs being the preferred short version.

Spurs play their home games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Image: Getty)

"The club have requested that they are not referred to as Tottenham."

The Premier League website has been updated to reflect this change, with no mention of 'Tottenham' except within the club's current three-letter abbreviation.

And overseas broadcasters have also begun to include the 'new' name in their coverage of English football.

While clubs have, in the past, requested that broadcasters refer to their official names in a certain way - and fans have certainly made their feelings clear on social media - this appears to be the first time that such a request has been viewable publicly.

The Spurs name change will no doubt surprise fans, although The Athletic note that the club hasn't referred to itself as 'Tottenham' internally since 2011 as per official policy.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou being interviewed by ITV Sport in January (Image: Getty)

And a brand document unveiled by the club in November reads: "In a world full of Uniteds, Citys and Rovers, there is only one Hotspur, Tottenham Hotspur."

Another reason, it is indicated, is to avoid the perception of 'Tottenham' referring solely to the area of Tottenham, instead of to 'Tottenham Hotspur' the football club.

It is indeed true that there isn't another Hotspur in English football - at least as far down as the upper reaches of the amateur game - with fans having to travel to Wales or Malta if they wanted to see another team with the same name in action.

Holyhead Hotspur has represented the Welsh town of the first name since 1990, while there are two different teams in Malta who use the name ending.