Published: 13 May, 2014
By DAN CARRIER

SPURS have announced they have parted company with manager Tim Shwerwood this morning (Tuesday) – and now the hunt is on to find his successor.

Sherwood's five month reign came to an end after a meeting with chairman Daniel Levy at Spurs Lodge. A statement, posted on the club's website, said: “We appointed Tim mid-season as someone who knew both the players and the Club. We agreed an 18-month contract with a break clause at the end of the season and we have now exercised that option.”

Many felt Levy had included barbed criticism of Sherwood in the final day match programme ahead of Tottenham's 3-0 win over Aston Villa. In his message to supporters, he said even when results had gone the side's way, the points gained had not lived up to the club's traditions.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust chairwoman Cat Law, who is meeting with the board tonight (Tuesday) to discuss issues such as the campaign to introduce 'Safe Standing' areas at the new ground, said: “It is not exactly a great shock that we have parted company.

“Hopefully the next manager will be a choice that will unite the fans. There can be no denying that there were many who did not like him as a manager. He really divided opinion. So did Harry Redknapp and Andre Villas Boas, but with Sherwood it was on a whole different level.”

Ms Law added that she felt this could be partly due to the circumstances of his appointment.

She said: “Before he was appointed, we had a plan with new players coming in and a young coach to mould them. When AVB left, there was no Plan B. Sherwood was just put in front of us: it wasn't his fault it didn't work, but the circumstances he found himself in.”

And as for the next manager, she said that while the highly-rated Southampton boss Mauricio Porchettino had some Premier League experience, she believed Ajax coach Frank De Boer had to be considered the favourite.

She said: “He is the top choice among the fans. His appointment would create a buzz.”

And she added that the crucial thing was to give the next manager the time to get the current squad working together – and not make any knee-jerk sales or signings.

She said: “What we really need is continuity. We need to make a plan and then go with it.”

Spurs have yet to make any further announcements but De Boer has publicly expressed interest in managing a Premiership side.

Levy added: “Moving forward, now the season is over, we shall embark on the process of finding a new head coach. We have a talented squad and exciting young players coming through. We need to build on this season, develop our potential and inspire the kind of performances that we associate with our great club."