Spurs turmoil over place in UEFA Cup

14 April 2012

Tottenham could be forced to rip up their pre-season plans if they win a place in the UEFA Cup this weekend.

Spurs are one of six clubs hoping to win a place in next season's competition through Sunday's Fair Play draw.

But if they are one of the two clubs chosen they will have to play in the first qualifying round on 14 July. That clashes with their plans to take part in the eight team Peace Cup in South Korea, which starts a day later.

The fixture mix-up is an embarrassing blow to Spurs who had turned down another route into the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto Cup amid fears that their players would face burn out.

Tottenham thought that by entering the Fair Play draw they would not have to play their first match until September.

Spurs sporting director Frank Arnesen admitted: "Our initial information was that we would enter the UEFA Cup later in the competition but now we must wait for the draw."

Spurs will be joined in the draw in Manchester by German club Mainz, Hammarby of Sweden, Estonia's Tulevik Viljandi and Young Boys of Switzerland. A Danish side has yet to be chosen to enter the draw and Norway's Viking Stavanger have an automatic place.

Meanwhile, former Spurs star Sol Campbell has eased fears he might miss the start of pre-season training with Arsenal after a scan on his twisted ankle showed there was no ligament damage.

The England defender, who missed much of last season with ankle problems, feared the worst when he was injured during the 2-1 win over the United States in Chicago on Saturday.

But Campbell said: "I've had a scan and there is no ligament damage, nothing like that. It is really just a bad twist. There will be no operation, and it's not the same ankle I've had the problems with before. I'm relieved.

"Now it's just a matter of getting the fluid away and it will be no more than two or three weeks before it's fine. I'll be back and flying for pre-season training."

Campbell's injuries cost him his starting place in the Arsenal side to young Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos, who is keen to extend his contract at Highbury.

Back home to prepare for Saturday's World Cup qualifier in the Faroe Islands, the 20-year-old Senderos expects to sign a new deal which will keep him at Arsenal until 2010.

"I would love to," he said. "I'm very happy at the club and now that they've given me the opportunity to play at the top level, I'm really enjoying my football."

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