Sherwood laid low by job speculation

Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood claims the constant speculation over his future has left him feeling like a school supply teacher. Photo by: Darren Staples

Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood claims the constant speculation over his future has left him feeling like a school supply teacher. Photo by: Darren Staples

Published May 9, 2014

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London - Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood on Friday claimed the constant speculation over his future has left him feeling like a school supply teacher.

Sherwood looks set to leave White Hart Lane at the end of the season after just six months in charge of the Premier League club.

The 45-year-old former Tottenham midfielder agreed an 18-month contract in December when he replaced sacked predecessor Andre Villas-Boas, but, after a brief honeymoon period, he soon found his position being linked with a host of managers including Ajax's Frank De Boer and Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino.

The speculation only increased when Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy opted against publicly backing Sherwood as the team's results declined.

Sherwood is convinced Tottenham's erratic form is largely due to the resulting uncertainty over his future, which left him with little authority in the eyes of his players.

“People will always judge on what I've come in and done. And also I'm doing it with a lot of uncertainty around my future,” Sherwood said,

“If you have a supply teacher who comes into your school, sometimes they're not treated with the respect that a headmaster is.”

Under Sherwood's leadership, Spurs failed to mount a serious challenge for Champions League qualification and bowed out of the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup earlier than expected.

They still need a point from their final game of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday to qualify for the Europa League.

Tottenham's Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who has fallen out of favour since Sherwood's appointment, announced on Thursday that he is under the impression there will be a change of manager in the close-season.

And Sherwood's response revealed his frustration at the way his situation has been handled by the Spurs board.

“I'm not sure if the chairman has spoken to Sandro but obviously someone has told him, the players see a lot of speculation don't they,” he added.

“It begins to be more than that, I have had a lot of players come to me and say their agents have told them that I'm not going to be here next year, it is a very difficult situation but I have got to get on with it.”

Sapa-AFP

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