Spurs could call time on Sherwood’s spell as manager early.
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Tottenham are considering sacking Tim Sherwood this week amid concerns the head-coach is damaging the club’s reputation, CaughtOffside understands.
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Sherwood, 46, was informed a week ago that he would not be retained as manager beyond the end of this campaign but his behaviour since that decisive meeting with chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Franco Baldini has caused significant alarm at boardroom level.
Senior players have reported that training has descended into little more than frivolous training matches and shooting practice, with no focus on Spurs’ previous or next opponents.
The 46-year-old, who was handed an 18-month contract by Levy in December, has also alienated a number of players and publicly scorned a direct request from Levy to reintegrate club-recording signing Erik Lamela into the first team before the end of the season.
Sherwood has insisted Lamela is not fit enough to feature but the Argentine winger is expected to return to full training this week and has been working with a physio from the Argentinian national team for over a month.
The 21-year-old is said to be feeling fit and wants to play before the end of the season to boost his World Cup hopes. Sherwood, however, is adamant that he will not, leading to a direct plea from Levy which the manager rejected in his press conference ahead of the Saturday’s win over Fulham.
Levy was left stunned after Sherwood questioned Lamela’s ability in the same interview, insisting the jury was still out on the former Roma star, who cost Spurs £30m last summer.
Following the 3-1 victory over Fulham, Sherwood also claimed fan-favourite Sandro was ‘not good enough’ for his squad, after the Brazilian had revealed he was fit to play on social media.
Like Lamela, Sandro will not play again this season if Sherwood remains in charge, which will effectively end the midfielder’s hopes of featuring for the hosts in Brazil this summer.
Levy had hoped to muddle on until the end of the campaign with Sherwood in charge, before turning to either Louis van Gaal or Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino but the chairman may now dismiss the former Spurs midfielder this week.
The club are, however, desperate to secure Europa League qualification for next season and are aware that retaining some stability in the form of Sherwood may be the best means to achieve it, with just three games of the season remaining.
Neither Netherlands boss Van Gaal nor Pochettino are available to start before the summer but Levy remains in touch with Glenn Hoddle and is aware of his desire for the manager’s job.
Hoddle could be approached with a mandate to restore squad harmony and run the ship until a new manager is found.
Sherwood’s popular assistant Steffen Freund could also be handed the reigns for the final three games.