Published: December 16, 2013
By DAN CARRIER

SPURS announced this morning (Monday) that they have parted company with their manager Andre Villas Boas.

The decision was made in the early hour of last night after Tottenham's 5-0 mauling at home by Liverpool.

A statement on the clubs website gave no clues as to who may follow him – but confirmed the removal with immediate effect.

It said: “The Club can announce that agreement has been reached with Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services. The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.”

The coach, who was appointed in the summer of 2012, saw his side miss out on the Champions League places by one point last term and despite criticisms had over seen one of the clubs best Premiership starts for points gained. But two heavy defeats by Manchester City and then Liverpool had tested the patience of chairman Daniel Levy, and the performances of a side that had £106m spent on it in the close season meant the stuttering performances had attracted widespread criticism.

In a post-match press conference yesterday (Sunday), Villas Boas said he would not resign and that he would only meet the chairman today 'as we work in the same building.'

But with Spurs off the pace in the hunt for fourth, the pressure on the young Portuguese manager was proving to be too much and he was told this morning his services were no longer required. The club say they will make a further announcement today.