Spurs stand by Santini no-show

Tottenham tonight denied French coach Jacques Santini insulted the memory of legendary former boss Bill Nicholson when he failed to attend a post-match press conference following his side’s home defeat to Bolton.

Nicholson, who guided Spurs to the double in 1961 and Britain’s first European success two seasons later, died peacefully in a Hertfordshire hospital after a long illness early on Saturday morning. He was 85.