Statement from Levy...

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

Looks like Jol has the dreaded vote of confidence. I give Jol two or three games to save his job...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6957639.stm

Levy said in a statement: "We are an ambitious club and we have discussed our expectations with Martin.

"For that we need our management standards to be of the highest quality so that we can compete with the best.

"Martin has confirmed to me that he feels he is equipped with a squad and a determination to take the challenge."

Jol and his assistant Chris Hughton met with Levy and the rest of the Spurs' board on Tuesday.

"We had a full and frank conversation," Jol told Tottenham's website. "I fully understand the ambitions of the club - they are the same as the supporters.

"He has put a lot of hard work into this club and with the squad of players we have assembled, it is realistic that we should look to challenge for a top four position and I have assured him and the Board that that is what I shall aim for.

"Yes, it is pressure to deliver, but that is what we managers should expect. Hopefully all the media will relax now - all I shall be concentrating on is each and every game."

Levy made it clear what he expects from Jol, adding: "We want Champions League football.

"We, the board, owe it to the club and the supporters to constantly assess our position and performance and to ensure that we have the ability to operate and compete at that level.

"We have made a massive investment in the squad and as a result we have the best squad of players this club has had for over 20 years and they are equally hungry for success and silverware."

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

i'd like to think sense and sanity have prevailed. But you're right daniel this reads like a temporary stay of execution. As the executioner in chief realises that a couple of defeats v manure and the filth will be reason enough to pull thf trigger. Conversely, this gives BMJ massive opportunity to get two great results and shove it up the Boards collective arses. It's now down to his team selections, tactics and how much thf players want to save his job. Sundays game is now MASSIVE. I wonder how many of them and us turn up! COYS

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

whichever way you look at it - it's now in BMJ's hands.

I wonder how the players will react to this. Will they go missing or will they step up their game? If we have another Sunderland away at Man U then Jol is toast

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007380829,00.html

seems like there are other grounds for the lingering doubts over his tenure.

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

ITK posted by Cule-Spur on gg.net. Some of this is already being reflected in the Spanish media and in England.

Of course, that overlooks the possibility that Comolli is possibly restricted by the general lack of faith at board level with Jol. I mean, if Jol tells the board that he wants Downing, Boro quote £12m, Levy tells Comolli he isn't spunking £12m on Jol's target unless he (Comolli) rates him aswell, Comolli says he doesn't rate him, and that's that.

Endless permutations. Maybe Comolli comes back and says, "we should get Ben Arfa". Jol says, "I want Downing and if you get Ben Arfa, I'm not going to play him - he's too lighweight for our midfield", etc.

It's all clear as mud, as I said earlier. Whichever way you look at it though, it's not a question of Jol or Comolli, simply because even if you remove Comolli there are still clear problems with Levy/the board and Jol's relationship.

Ramos has a year left on his contract but it is a rolling contract and the whole set up at Sevilla is fairly complicated. There is a rift between Ramos and club President, Del Nido, over the terms of that contract. Ramos, justifiably, feels that he should be given a fairly substantial and long term deal for all that he has acheived. Del Nido, on the other hand, is an egomaniac ( possibly the biggest arsehole working in football with the possible exception of Calderon and Taxi Shinupwhatsisface). Its not just the issue of the contract but the fact that Del Nido parades himself around as if he is soley responsible for the club's success.

I can't comment on the Tottenham end of things as it falls well outside my remit, but I can shed some light on things at the Spanish end. As I understand it, and this comes from very close to Ramos, the meeting that took place was staged by Ramos' agent. His agent contacted a couple of contacts in the Mardrid press (one of whom I spoke to Yesterday) and made it known that the meeting was taking place, who would be there and even where they should stand if they wanted a photo.

The idea, on the eve of the Supercup final, was to place pressure on Del Nido with Ramos making it clear that he is in demand. Tottenham have been chatting up Ramos for a long time. Not neccesarily with an eye to making a firm move but rather to developing a strong relationship with arguably the most promising manager working in the game right now.

Before everyone gets on their high horse and starts screaming about loyalty to Jol etc etc - lets be very clear. This game is a business. Tottenham should be applauded for developing a strong bond with a manager who is so highly sought after. It shows forward thinking and shrewd business sense. There is no loyalty in football and six months is an eternity.

When Levy started chatting up Ramos who knows what the next six months promised - Jol could have quit, gone to Manchester United, fallen out with all and sundry or, god forbid, been hit by a bus. Remember how when we signed Berbatov he revealed that he chose Tottenham because we had been after him for a long time and that our interest was genuine and that the way we had courted him was impressive.

Its the same thing - In football contacts are everything and if for whatever reason we find oursellves managerless on any given day then its reassuring to know that the club has a strategy.

Now back to my little tale as I have it in Spain. John Alexander gets the phone call and trundles along to the Alfonso XIII hotel in Sevilla. ;This is where it gets interesting. According to a Marca journalist - who is running this today - Ramos' agent was expecting a coffee and a natter (as has happened on numerous occasions before only without the cameras lurking). Totally unbeknown to him , Alexander turns up with Kelmesly who offers Ramos a 4-6 year deal along with a gargantuan salary. I've spoken to the journalist - Mercedes Torrecillas (she knows Torres- Ramos agent- well and works the daily press brief in Seville) and She has given me her word that Torres insists on that he was not expecting an offer just a chat.

Further, he tells her that Spurs have given Ramos until the end of the week to decide. The size of the offer has left Ramos tempted - but at the moment he is leaning toward staying in Seville - although he will see how the news of Spurs' offer plays with Del Nido.

I know the above is all a bit Tom Clancy but that is how it works. I don't do ITK know shite and nothing in the above will not surface as copy over the next 24hrs ( In Spain anyway) - I've just sought confirmation frm some of the characters involved - that is all. They are journalists and football agents so we are just an estate agent short of the axis of evil. Take it or leave it - its just what is being said in Spain.

For what its worth, with regard to Ramos - he is a fine coach who has won trophy's in one of the best leagues in the world and taken some impressive scalps. His footballing philosophy would put a smile on old Sir Bills face - score one more than the opposition and then score another one just to be sure, the best form of defence is to attack, attack, attack. He accepts nothing but sheer bloddy minded grit and determination to go with it and like Sir Bill is not averse to giving out a rollicking after a 3-0 win.

There is a proviso - he owes a lot of his success to his sporting director at Sevilla - Monchi- and it is hard to gauge how effective Ramos would be without him - he supplies Ramos with some fine players on a budget that makes Bolton look like Chelsea. Further, prior to Seviilla, Ramos past is somewhat chequered and he has not always been so succesful, there are a couple of blemishes here and there.

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

I know it is just paper talk, but from these reports it looks like our charming board have f*cked things up by being turned down by Ramos and thereby leaving Jol as a lame duck. Seems that Ramos will announce today that he's staying at Sevilla for another year to have a chance of winning the CL.

Nice piccie of Levy and Jol shaking hands in the Daily Mail article, not staged at all Mr Levy, surely? Also, Jol looks like he could literally eat Levy for breakfast.

Come on you Spurs, let's get 4 points out of the next two games and then push on, with Maarten Cornelius Jol as our leader!

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/comment/article2883795.ece

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=476912&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2303025.ece

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007380824,00.html

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

well if Ramos has snubbed us and we fail to get 4 points it would leave the door wide open for any Tom, Dick or Harry Redknapp. I feel a season of shite is on the cards

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

Or even worse, the Times article mentions Pleat in the caretaker role.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

Too right Janek and Daniel. Whichever way you look at it. Levy and the Board have managed this whole affair like a bunch amateurs. It's been unprofessional and embarrasing for the club. As I said yesterday, Levy should take a long hard look at himself and the politics amongst his fellow board members first before pointing fingers at BMJ over lack of results and future performance.

The whole thing is a zhit show and Levy should carry the can. If I was Chairman of the Board of ENIC I would have Daniel Levy in for a show down meeting.

It's a PR disaster for the Club and PLC. LEVY OUT!

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 2576

From the conflicting reports emanating from the boardroom (and I'm pretty sure that what I reported, what BOF reported and what Dragon1 reported all came straight from board level) it appears to me that there is a split in the boardroom wider than the Grand Canyon - how else do you reconcile two reports saying categorically that BMJ is staying with another that says he is definitely going?

Levy/Paul Barber need to sort out the boardroom and get everyone on the same page, if that's not possible I would suggest that the first major changes need to be made in the boardroom, not in the dressing room.

A lot of people seem to be upset with the wording of the club's statement, but BMJ is in a very results-orientated business and has been told quite clearly by his bosses what their expectations are. I don't believe they set a time frame on reaching that level in their statement, but he knows that he has to produce or give them a very good reason as to why he can't produce just yet - happens in many professions, why not at Spurs?

My biggest complaint is with the way the club have handled the whole affair, they should (if possible) have come out with this statement several days ago, but if they couldn't agree on what they wanted to do in the boardroom, that would explain why it took them so long. As I said above, sort out the back office politics.

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

Agreed. Levy and his Merry band of Board Directors have made this Club a laughing stock during this whole affair. Who in their right minds would come to manage Spurs with so many divisions at the highest level?

Levy should remove certain Board members or better still remove himself. The buck stops with him. I hope ENIC force him to leave.

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 3552

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 2497

Vote of confidence or Stay of execution? It doesn't really matter now. BMJ is told in no uncertain terms that he is expected to deliver Champions League football to the club.

Come the end of the season, it is a matter of Jol going or Spurs getting the 4th spot. It's a fair game now. Everyone set their goals and expectations and if you couldn't achieve them, you're out. BMJ could have gone right away if he doesn't think getting Champions League football is even remotely achievable. He takes on the challenge and it is in his hands.

I love Martin Jol and Martin Jol loves me. Hope the players do their bit in helping BMJ to achieve the 4th spot.
_________________
To dare is to do

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

but how many of those points have been dropped due to off the field distractions. Now factions appear. If ENIC and Levy had kept their mouths shut maybe the removal of Jol would have happened anyway but as things stand it now makes BMJ's job much more difficult.

Gary Stevens Joined : 07 Jun 2007 Posts : 1015

The board are idiots - end of. Either a change should have been made in early June or they stick with what they've got - none of this behind the scenes unsettling which will a) not bring out the best in the current coach and b) not help the players settle as a team.

Media don't help either - they've been planning this story all summer - talking up the Top 4 story only now to do their best to make sure that the club is unstable as possible.

How come we are getting all this shite... look at Man U, not a sniff of news about their board getting edgy.

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 3552

So far no point have been dropped. These discussions took place between Sunday and Tuesday. ENIC have every right to say something. I'd be furious with the dire performances like those against Sunderland/ Everton and what it know I expect changes. I'm fed up with Jol's " we need to do better " post match comments. Always the same. Levy has come out and done exactly what I wanted to do after Sunderland, Everton and a host of other games last season - kick arse and tell the manager/players inconsistency, lack of concentration and endeavour simply isn't good enough.

Lets see how they respond to this public bollocking. They should run out at OT like its a European cup final and I for one feel slightly more optmistic of getting a result than I did prior to events this week.