Spurs told: Curbs will cost £5m

As more names get linked with the job, including former Real Madrid coach Vincent Del Bosque, Pleat, who is in temporary charge of team affairs for tonight's Carling Cup match at Coventry, said: "There is no future in the past. Today is day three and it is best that I treat every day very positively and just wait and see what develops.

"I have to avoid answering that question at the moment. Let's see how the games and the players' attitude goes and then the board have to sit down and start talking. I am not thinking of me at the moment.

"We'll just have to see how things develop. I'm sure there are some top people out there who might pretend they are not interested in the job but probably would be interested and by the same token there are some who say they are genuinely interested as well.

"I have made it a discipline not to answer it. I will continue to work for the club and I am privileged to have had someone come to me and have the faith to say look after the team. I am as privileged as the last man was and the next will be."

Pleat will be heartened by the attitude of some players to Hoddle's removal. One senior player told Standard Sport: "It is like a great weight off our shoulders. All the pressure was building up and it was very hard for everyone. Training on Monday was like a breath of fresh air.

"What frustrated the players a lot was the tactical side of things. There was so much changing of systems - and that was during games, not between them. Nothing was given enough time to work.

"Even when we were winning sometimes the system was changed and that was confusing. The players were left wondering why it had been done. In the end it was like we were listening without hearing. It was like it had to be his way or no way. It was a very difficult situation."

The player's team-mate, midfielder Christian Ziege, said Hoddle's sacking was inevitable after leading the club to its worst-ever Premiership start.

Ziege, battling back after a careerthreatening thigh injury, said: "The news that Glenn had gone came as no surprise. We have taken just four points from six games and it is a totally bungled start to the campaign.

"When that happens the laws of football inevitably come into effect and the manager has to go. David Pleat has taken control and that should give the club enough time to make a good choice."

Galatasaray star Frank De Boer says Raddy Antic would be a perfect choice to succeed Hoddle.

Former Barcelona coach Antic is installed as the current favourite to land the job and has already hinted that he's interested.

De Boer, who played under Antic at Barcelona, says: "His arrival had a big impact on all the players. He did not perform a miracle but he did bring a little magic back to the way we played and to our results."