Spurs board in turmoil

The January transfer budget of the new Tottenham manager - or current caretaker David Pleat - could be undermined by serious boardroom disagreements.

That may affect the club's ability to attract their No1 choice for the job, still believed to be Celtic's Martin O'Neill.

Any new manager would expect transfer funds to be in place before they would move to White Hart Lane.

But that appears to be in jeopardy after a series of furious behind-the-scenes rows between directors about a new financing package, some of which would have been made available to strengthen the team in the winter.

Concern about the financial position of Spurs escalated yesterday after the sudden departure of the finance director Paul Viner.

He was axed after disagreements with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy although he left by "mutual consent" according to an official statement.