Blame Spurs chief Levy for AVB failure, says Lineker
TOTTENHAM and England great Gary Lineker has pointed the finger at chairman Daniel Levy after the club sacked Andre Villas-Boas yesterday.
Villas-Boas was fired the morning after losing 5-0 to Liverpool in the team’s worst home Premier League defeat this century.
Lineker admitted the appointment had not worked but said those in charge of recruiting the former Chelsea boss should also be held to account for Spurs’ results.
“Much of the blame must go to those who appointed AVB, but those in power are never ultimately the ones that feel the guillotine,” Lineker wrote on Twitter.
The striker-turned-broadcaster backed former England and Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle for a second shot at the White Hart Lane job, 10 years after he was sacked.
He added: “Would love to see Glenn Hoddle given another chance at this level. Has a brilliant football mind.”
Hoddle is reported to be keen on a first managerial role since resigning from Wolves in summer 2006 and has also been linked with the West Brom vacancy.
The 56-year-old was among candidates the Football Association considered for the England job before hiring Roy Hodgson last year, despite leaving the role in controversial circumstances in 1999.
Tottenham have placed technical co-ordinator and former midfielder Tim Sherwood in temporary charge for tomorrow’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham but his absence of managerial experience makes him an outsider to get the role permanently.
Another former England manager in Fabio Capello was among the bookmakers’ early favourites to succeed Villas-Boas, due in part to his long relationship of working with Spurs director of football Franco Baldini. Ajax coach Frank de Boer and ex-Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard are thought to be highly regarded at Tottenham.
Villas-Boas’s departure came a day after he insisted he would not quit, despite the 5-0 defeat leaving Spurs seventh in the top flight. The 36-year-old took charge in summer 2012.
WHAT THEY SAID
With the greatest respect to the chairman I think it was the wrong move to appoint him. I think the guy showed he was unprofessional in spending that amount [£100m] of money.”
EX-SPURS OWNER LORD SUGAR
Nothing surprises me in football. We always want time, especially when you have just made a new team with plenty of new faces. Without any doubt, you need time.
SUNDERLAND BOSS GUS POYET
So AVB gone now! Had to incorporate seven new players which takes TIME/TIME/TIME! Rubbish! Let him finish his work!!
ENGLAND COACH GARY NEVILLE
AVB sacked. Would love to see Glenn Hoddle given another chance at this level. Has a brilliant football mind.
GARY LINEKER