Spurs begin manager search

Tottenham are today beginning their search for a new manager after taking the decision to sack Glenn Hoddle last night.

Spurs’ 3-1 defeat by Southampton on Saturday proved the final straw for chairman Daniel Levy and the board as the club slumped to third from bottom in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Despite spending over £11m (€15m) on new players over the summer, Spurs have just four points from their opening six games, their worst start to a Premiership campaign.

Levy said: “Unfortunately, the start to this season has been our worst since the Premiership was formed. Coupled with the extremely poor second half to last season, the current lack of progress and any visible sign of improvement is unacceptable.

“It is critical that I, and the board, have absolute confidence in the manager to deliver success to the club. Regrettably we do not. It is not a decision we have taken lightly. However, we are determined to see this club succeed and we must now move forward.

“Glenn occupies a special place at this club. (The) decision in no way detracts from the fact that he was one of our greatest players.

“He will always be welcome at White Hart Lane. I should like to personally thank him for his determination and commitment and wish him well.

“We shall be thorough in our search for a new manager. It is a crucial appointment and we shall take the time necessary to make the best choice.”

Hoddle may claim that he has been judged very early in the season, but the fact is that Spurs have been on a downward slide since the beginning of the year.

From January 1 when Spurs lost 1-0 at Southampton until Saturday, when they were again beaten by Saints, Hoddle saw his team win just six out of 24 matches.

Hoddle and Spurs fans had hoped for a brighter start to the current campaign after the manager splashed out on three strikers during the summer.

He paid £6.25m (8.97m) for Portuguese international Helder Postiga from FC Porto, bought Frederic Kanoute from West Ham for £3.5m (€5m), and Bobby Zamora from Brighton for an initial £1.5m (€2.1m).

He also brought in midfielder Mbulelo Mabizela from South African club Orlando Pirates and during the recent transfer window he signed Stephane Dalmat from Inter Milan and Paul Konchesky from Charlton, both on loan.

The season started with a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham followed by a 2-1 home victory over Leeds and an encouraging 0-0 draw at Liverpool. However, the last three games saw Spurs leak 10 goals as they lost 3-0 at home to Fulham, 4-2 at Chelsea, and then crashed to Hoddle’s former club Southampton.

That proved enough for the club to bring his two-and-a-half years in charge to an end.

Three men are believed to be at the top of the list to replace Hoddle. They are Celtic chief Martin O’Neill, Graeme Souness of Blackburn, and Charlton’s Alan Curbishley.

In the interim, director of football David Pleat will take over as caretaker manager, while Chris Hughton will remain as first team coach. They have a tricky first game to contend with as Spurs travel to Coventry on Wednesday for a Carling Cup tie.

Despite the disappointing start to the season, Tottenham fans never really got on Hoddle’s back, as the vast majority of them grew up watching him give them some of their finest moments when he was a player in the 1970s and 80s.

He is acknowledged as one of the game’s best coaches, but players have criticised his man-management skills and that will have led to his downfall.

There have been bitter parting shots from the likes of Tim Sherwood, Teddy Sheringham, Steffen Freund and Neil Sullivan who have departed White Hart Lane this year.

There have also been criticisms of his training methods, with some players unhappy at the lengthy sessions he insisted on running.

Although it was omitted from the club statement, assistant manager John Gorman will also be leaving the club, leaving the way clear for the next manager to bring in his own man.