Champs League Or Bust

[jayp]

Martin Jol to stay at Spurs but told to deliver


Tottenham manager Martin Jol has had his future at the club made more secure but with the understanding that failure to deliver Champions League football will not be tolerated after a meeting today with chairman Daniel Levy, sporting director Damien Comolli and members of the club's board.
The meeting was described by Jol as 'full and frank' and though the Dutch manager has greater reason to feel safe in his job after it, the assurances from his bosses were vague enough so as to not fully dissipate the pressure he is under.


Qualified success: The Spur's board fall short of unequivocal support
There has been growing speculation that Jol's position at White Hart Lane was under threat after two defeats in the first two matches of a new Premier League campaign in which Tottenham were widely tipped to improve on a fifth place finish last season.

Speculation that the London club were in negotiations with Sevilla manager Juande Ramos to replace Jol escalated when Tottenham officials and Ramos were photographed at the Hotel Rey Alfonso on Friday putting media officials on high alert that the Spaniard is to become Spurs' new coach just three matches into the new season.

Levy said: "We have had two good, progressive seasons with fifth place finishes. I am an ambitious chairman, we are an ambitious club and we want Champions League football at White Hart Lane.

"We, the board, owe it to the club and the supporters to constantly assess our position and performance and to ensure that we have the ability to operate and compete at that level.

advertisement"We have made a massive investment in the squad and as a result we have the best squad of players this club has had for over 20 years and they are equally hungry for success and silverware.

"For that we need our management and coaching standards to be of the highest quality such that players can fulfil their potential and we can compete with the best.

"We have discussed all of these expectations with Martin and he has confirmed to me today that he feels he is equipped with a squad and a determination to take on that challenge."

Jol for his part said he is aware of what is required and intends to deliver on those expectations.

Jol said: "We had a full and frank conversation and I fully understand the ambitions of the club - they are the same as those of the supporters.

"He [Levy] has put a lot of hard work into this club and with the squad of players we have assembled, it is realistic that we should look to challenge for a top four position and I have assured him and the board that that is what I shall aim for."

Whilst broadly supportive of Jol, the statement falls short of an unqualified backing of Jol's management.

Earlier Sevilla officials moved to quell the rumours surrounding their manager with club President Jose Maria del Nido explicitly stating that Ramos would see out his contract with a club set to make its Champions League debut this year.

"In order to quash the rumours that have come from England in recent days, I want to make it clear that our coach Juande Ramos has assured me that he will complete his contract with the club," Del Nido told reporters at a specially convened news conference.

"The rumours that he will be leaving are totally false... I hope that this will put an end to the speculation."

[histon]

bye jol

[Aussie Bee]

not good enough - spurs should have got sven

[shortfuse0_1]

Spurs will never compete as long as they've got Jenas in midfield!!!!!

[lfc junkie]

i like spurs.
but i dont get Levy, Jol has done a great job at White Hart Lane, they are better than ever, they have a great team, they play entertaining football.
Is this the way to say 'thanks'? Doubting his abilities after two straight losses? Inquiring about other managers.

Jol should stay where he is, he has proven he's worth it, Rome wasnt built in one day, and so wasnt any top team.

[Beefy]

Spurs have spent a lot of money and are desperate for champions League football. I posted on here last year that there's a lot of similarities between them and what Leeds did 7 years ago. If success doesn't come soon lord knows where they'll end up.

[lfc junkie]

why did jol wanted to sell Berbatov for? i think you're right.
If spurs played in Belgium, they would get Champs league football every year, they are ten times better than anderlecht. It's not really fair.
Spurs are better than rangers, still, rangers get Champ league every year.
champions league should only be there for the best.