Armstrong shown door at Spurs

Chris Armstrong’s injury-ravaged spell at Tottenham will come to an end this summer after the club announced they would not be renewing the striker’s contract.

The 30-year-old, who joined Spurs from Crystal Palace in 1995, has been out of first-team action since December 2000 with groin problems and has not yet played a game under boss Glenn Hoddle.

And despite Armstrong’s attempts to force his way back into Hoddle’s plans via the reserves in recent weeks, the White Hart Lane club have decided to release him.

Hoddle said: ‘‘I said to Chris that I was waiting, waiting and waiting and I wanted him to have two or three months in the reserves showing me what he could do fully fit and perhaps then we could have offered him some sort of contract.

‘‘Sadly, the time has come where we had to make a decision and we’ve had to say no and he’ll have to move on.

‘‘I have said to Chris that if he doesn’t find a club straight away he can come back to train with us in pre-season, use our facilities and we’ll give him the opportunity to get 100% fit.

‘‘We owe that to the lad. He’s a smashing lad and we wish him well.’’

The north Londoners had better news for 22-year-old midfielder Simon Davies however, who has agreed a new five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2007.

The Wales international, who joined from Peterborough United in January 2000, has been in excellent form this season.

Director of football David Pleat added on the club’s official website, spurs.co.uk, said: ‘‘In taking part in all but one of our matches this season, Simon has proved he has served his apprenticeship with flying colours and we are delighted he has established himself in the side.

‘‘Simon has an outstanding future with Tottenham and Wales and we are delighted he has shown his faith in us at the same time we have shown our confidence in him.

‘‘We are also confident that our other similar young signings will progress in the same manner as Simon and will play a vital role in the club’s future.’’