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Tottenham supporters' group demands explanation from chairman Daniel Levy as to why Andre Villas-Boas was sacked with no replacement in sight
Villas-Boas was dismissed on Monday morning but Spurs have so far told Tim Sherwood that he will be in charge on a game-by-game basis
JACK DE MENEZES Friday 20 December 2013
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is facing a potential backlash from angry fans who are demanding an explanation over why Andre Villas-Boas was sacked earlier this week when there was no clear replacement lined up.
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Levy informed current interim manager Tim Sherwood that he would be in charge once more for the weekend trip to Southampton having overseen the side’s 2-1 League Cup defeat to West Ham on Wednesday. But shortly after the 44-year-old was informed, a prominent supporters’ group called for answers over what they described as a worrying direction for the club to be heading in.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust are privately discussing whether to take further action should Levy and the board of director’s ignore their request for an explanation.
“Following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas on Monday morning and defeat in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening, the board of Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust believe it is paramount that the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Daniel Levy, issues a statement addressing the supporters to explain the rationale behind the manager’s dismissal and clearly stating his plans moving forward,” read a statement released by the THST.
“We believe that now, more than at any time during ENIC’s ownership of THFC, the level of frustration and anger being shown by fans renders this request fully warranted. As ever, it is made in the best interests of our club.”
Levy has sacked seven managers since taking control at the club in 2001, with an amazing nine men coming and going during the same time that fierce rivals Arsenal have stuck with Arsene Wenger.
With the expected dismissal of Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay set to be confirmed within the next few days, Wenger will have more years’ experience with his current club in the Premier League than the rest of the top flight put together, and the high turnover at White Hart Lane has been put down to Levy’s tendency to wield the axe at the first opportunity.
The League Cup exit further compounded the misery at Tottenham at the time being, with Sherwood only finding out on Thursday that he would still be in charge for the weekend encounter against Saints.
But according to reports, the club could find it difficult to make an appointment from overseas until after the festive period, with Spurs preparing for a run of five matches in 14 days. Furthermore, the majority of European Leagues will stop for their winter break, and Spurs could struggle to lure the bookmakers favourite Frank de Boer before the Dutch leave takes a month break after this weekend.
Another leading contender, Murat Yakin on Basle, has already gone on his festive holidays with the Swiss League not due to restart until February 1.
This could give Sherwood a better chance of landing the job on a permanent basis, especially is Spurs go on a run of solid results through the end of December and the beginning of January.
Midfielder Mousa Dembele has admitted that the players have held their own team meeting - the second emergency conference this season already – to discuss the situation that they currently find themselves in.
“We have talked among the team already and we said to each other 'now let’s do it, it’s everybody’s fault. We are one team, all together’,” said Dembele.
“I think everyone feels guilty and that’s a normal thing. It’s a team sport, it’s not one guy that’s responsible, everybody is responsible. Everyone has a piece of what went wrong. Everybody feels responsible.
“We don’t have to be negative. It is not that bad. We expect so much of ourselves and we know we can achieve big things. When it doesn’t happen you’re very disappointed. In the last few games we could have done much better, so we have to stay with the same motivation.”
“It has been very tough. We’re used to training under Villas-Boas and seeing him every day.
Dembele elaborated that the change from Villas-Boas to Sherwood has been a tough one to adapt to, but feels that the players responded to his methods in the West Ham match even though it ended in defeat.
It’s a new change, so we have to adapt. We’re used to another manager and now we have this one, but everybody is still positive. You could see that out on the pitch against West Ham.
“Tim made a few changes for the West Ham game and, even though we lost, we responded very well. Of course, we just had one day to work with Tim and it is difficult to put all your ideas on a team in that time.
“It’s difficult to have one day and change everything. It takes time in the season, but I think we’ve already started to play quite well.”
Villas-Boas was dismissed on Monday morning but Spurs have so far told Tim Sherwood that he will be in charge on a game-by-game basis
JACK DE MENEZES Friday 20 December 2013
11
PRINT A A A
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is facing a potential backlash from angry fans who are demanding an explanation over why Andre Villas-Boas was sacked earlier this week when there was no clear replacement lined up.
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New research study for Alzheimer's Find out more here.
clinlife.com/Alzheimer's_research
Rate Obama
Do You Support Obama's Job Performance? Rate Here
www.newsmax.com/surveys
Escape from America
6 Places to Protect and Grow Your Wealth as US Spirals Out of Control
www.sovereign-investor.com
Levy informed current interim manager Tim Sherwood that he would be in charge once more for the weekend trip to Southampton having overseen the side’s 2-1 League Cup defeat to West Ham on Wednesday. But shortly after the 44-year-old was informed, a prominent supporters’ group called for answers over what they described as a worrying direction for the club to be heading in.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust are privately discussing whether to take further action should Levy and the board of director’s ignore their request for an explanation.
“Following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas on Monday morning and defeat in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening, the board of Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust believe it is paramount that the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Daniel Levy, issues a statement addressing the supporters to explain the rationale behind the manager’s dismissal and clearly stating his plans moving forward,” read a statement released by the THST.
“We believe that now, more than at any time during ENIC’s ownership of THFC, the level of frustration and anger being shown by fans renders this request fully warranted. As ever, it is made in the best interests of our club.”
Levy has sacked seven managers since taking control at the club in 2001, with an amazing nine men coming and going during the same time that fierce rivals Arsenal have stuck with Arsene Wenger.
With the expected dismissal of Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay set to be confirmed within the next few days, Wenger will have more years’ experience with his current club in the Premier League than the rest of the top flight put together, and the high turnover at White Hart Lane has been put down to Levy’s tendency to wield the axe at the first opportunity.
The League Cup exit further compounded the misery at Tottenham at the time being, with Sherwood only finding out on Thursday that he would still be in charge for the weekend encounter against Saints.
But according to reports, the club could find it difficult to make an appointment from overseas until after the festive period, with Spurs preparing for a run of five matches in 14 days. Furthermore, the majority of European Leagues will stop for their winter break, and Spurs could struggle to lure the bookmakers favourite Frank de Boer before the Dutch leave takes a month break after this weekend.
Another leading contender, Murat Yakin on Basle, has already gone on his festive holidays with the Swiss League not due to restart until February 1.
This could give Sherwood a better chance of landing the job on a permanent basis, especially is Spurs go on a run of solid results through the end of December and the beginning of January.
Midfielder Mousa Dembele has admitted that the players have held their own team meeting - the second emergency conference this season already – to discuss the situation that they currently find themselves in.
“We have talked among the team already and we said to each other 'now let’s do it, it’s everybody’s fault. We are one team, all together’,” said Dembele.
“I think everyone feels guilty and that’s a normal thing. It’s a team sport, it’s not one guy that’s responsible, everybody is responsible. Everyone has a piece of what went wrong. Everybody feels responsible.
“We don’t have to be negative. It is not that bad. We expect so much of ourselves and we know we can achieve big things. When it doesn’t happen you’re very disappointed. In the last few games we could have done much better, so we have to stay with the same motivation.”
“It has been very tough. We’re used to training under Villas-Boas and seeing him every day.
Dembele elaborated that the change from Villas-Boas to Sherwood has been a tough one to adapt to, but feels that the players responded to his methods in the West Ham match even though it ended in defeat.
It’s a new change, so we have to adapt. We’re used to another manager and now we have this one, but everybody is still positive. You could see that out on the pitch against West Ham.
“Tim made a few changes for the West Ham game and, even though we lost, we responded very well. Of course, we just had one day to work with Tim and it is difficult to put all your ideas on a team in that time.
“It’s difficult to have one day and change everything. It takes time in the season, but I think we’ve already started to play quite well.”