OK, before Juande Ramos and Gus Poyet begin hopefully the most productive partnership in the history of Tottenham Hotspur, I feel there are questions that need addressing so the same fate does not befall the new managerial team.

What exactly is Damiel Comolli's role at Spurs? He says nothing, but he is often cited as the man whose influence over Daniel Levy is the root cause of many the the negative issues.

Who exactly was responsible for the purchase of Darren Bent? If it was Martin Jol who wanted the player, he seemed very reluctant to play him, and  I cannot think of a Spurs fan who saw the sense in such a huge transfer fee when it was evident to all and sundry that there were areas where the money should have been better spent.

'If it was Martin Jol who wanted Darren Bent, he seemed very reluctant to play him'


I would like to point out that I'm not being wise after the event, I am merely a working guy who played Sunday football at a very average level. Like most fans, even I could foresee the  troubles ahead because whoever purchased Bent hasn't a scooby doo about football, and is in a position at White Hart Lane that has too much influence over the board and chairman.

Was the purchase of Kevin-Prince Boeteng or Younes Kaboul at the price paid good business? I can think of a dozen players in the Championship who can run around like a headless chicken or warm the bench, along with all our other young stars of the future.

If it was Comolli, then the problem at Spurs still exists. How on earth can a tradesman be expected to work with another man's tools? Jol was expected to. You can cite his lack of tactical nous, and I would agree with you, but you would then have to accept that his tactics got us the leads in the first place, so it rubs both ways.

But it's the internal politics that have ripped the club apart, more than results on the field. It wouldn't surprise me if the meeting in August was deliberately leaked as an attempt to make Jol resign in indignation, something which became inevitable. But perhaps they never considered that Jol would hold out for a king's ransom for as long as he did.

Levy has cleared out almost all of the back-room staff. Hans Segers and Chris Hughton were as much responsible for Tottenham's poor tactics as Jol. Will Levy find out who is leaking these stories to the gutter press? Will he explain to the fans Comolli's role? Will Juande Ramos be a manager who picks the players he wants and buys the players he needs?

I have always been an admirer of Levy, and strongly believe that his heart and ambition are both beneficial for the well-being of Spurs. But he seems to be surrounded by too many 'wide boys' who each have their own vision and opinion on the club's future, making life virtually impossible for any new manager.

There has never been a director of football at Manchester United or Arsenal (despite Comolli's claims). Both teams have personalities who are responsible for team affairs from youth level to first team, from tea lady to number two. They appoint whom they want and suffer the consequences of their individual actions if things go wrong and get the plaudits if its goes well.

But I  am still none the wiser if Jol is solely responsible for the club's present position. If Levy needs a blueprint for success, then look above us in the table. There are plenty of teams out there with good management, and boards of directors who keep their opinions to themselves.

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