Hod 'devastated' by sack

14 April 2012

Glenn Hoddle has confided to friends that he is "absolutely devastated" by his sacking as Tottenham manager.

The former fans' favourite was axed by chairman Daniel Levy yesterday after the club's worst start to a Premiership season. Hoddle's assistant, John Gorman, who was also dismissed, said this morning: "Obviously Glenn is absolutely devastated. He is Tottenham through and through and we have both worked extremely hard.

"Glenn played so many years there and had got so much pride in his work. We wanted to give the Spurs fans success and joy and we never really achieved that.

"We would have loved to have given them success but it hasn't happened.

"Sir Alex Ferguson is now rightly acclaimed very highly (at Manchester United) but he had a hard time for a long while but he managed to stay in the job and look how successful he's been. Sometimes these decisions have to be made, but this is not an easy day to be honest."

Asked if Hoddle would quit management after this dismissal, Gorman added: "I won't ever say that, especially today. We have got to think about ourselves and not make rash decisions."

Hoddle has walked away from Spurs with a £1.25m pay-out. Levy interrupted his honeymoon in the Indian Ocean to sack his manager following an emergency board meeting on Saturday night after the 3-1 home defeat by Southampton.

Hoddle, who earned £1.2m a year as Spurs boss, has 30 months left on his contract but he will only collect a fixed compensation package worth around one year's salary.

Levy said: "It is critical that I, and the board, have absolute confidence in the manager to deliver success.

"Regrettably we do not. Following two seasons of disappointing results, there was a significant investment in the team during the summer, in order to give us the best possible chance of success this season.

"Unfortunately, the start to this season has been our worst since the Premiership was formed. Coupled with the extremely poor second half to last season, the current lack of progress and any visible sign of improvement are unacceptable.

"It is not a decision we have taken lightly. However, we are determined to see this club succeed and we must move forward.

"Glenn occupies a special place at the club. The decision in no way detracts from the fact that he was one of our greatest players. He will always be welcome at White Hart Lane.

"We shall be thorough in our search for a new manager. It is a crucial appointment and we shall take the time necessary to make the best choice.

"In the interim, David Pleat will take over as caretaker manager, along with Chris Hughton, as first-team coach."

Spurs' first choice is Celtic's Martin O'Neill but Graeme Souness, Alan Curbishly and Alex McLeish are also in the frame.

Bookmakers William Hill have stopped taking bets on former Barcelona coach Raddy Antic, who admitted today that he is interested in the Spurs job, but he remains favourite with other bookies.

Antic, who played under David Pleat at Luton and famously scored the goal that saved them from relegation on the last day of the season in 1983, is out of work and today confirmed his interest in the job.

He said: "I am aware of the situation at Tottenham and of course I am interested.

"I am in Madrid and they would have to come here to talk to me. I have not heard anything yet."

Hod 'devastated' by sack

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