Football supporters are expected to be loyal to their club, irrespective of  the team's current league position. Newspaper reporters are solely responsible for selling newspapers, irrespective of the damage they cause.

Well, Daily Mail, you've finally got your man - what a shame your paper knew nothing about it. In fact, the loyal supporters of Tottenham Hotspur FC were aware before you, The Sun and the Daily Mirror for that matter. Those same loyal supporters who throughout last night's game against Getafe sang heartlly the name of Martin Jol.

I couldn't hear the negative minority of supporters who frequent this site calling for BMJ's head, or the ones who litter the airwaves with their personal views. No, just the majority who believed the big Dutchman would and could turn things around.

'Sportingo allows me, the Joe average supporter, a voice. And that voice says to all of you who called for the big man's head, even last term - you're not Spurs supporters'


Last night had shades of 1984, in which Keith Burkinshaw was given his P45 before the UEFA Cup Final, and the majority of fans sang the dour Yorkshireman's name to the rafters. What happened after Burkinshaw's departure? Pretty much nothing until three years had gone by - but the great team of the early 80s had been dismantled and the likes of Steve Archibald, Garth Crooks, Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles faded in the memory, in the wake of  the board's misguided ambition and poor managerial selection.

Peter Shreeve was a resounding faliure as manager - twice! David Pleat followed and once again produced a side worthy of the name of Tottenham Hospur, now with the inspirational Chris Waddle, Richard Gough, Mitchell Thomas and the fantastic Danny Thomas in the side.

But unforseen circumstances and the availability of Terry Venables put paid to the potential of that team ever coming to fruition. And, apart from a streaky but exciting 1991 FA Cup Final win, and a really boring League Cup Final win in 1999, what have these managerial upheavals ever done for the club?

Billy Nicholson and Burkinshaw were unknowns at the time of their respective appointments, not big-name, must-have managers. But people who knew the game, and more importantly the club, knew the supporters' demands and expectations and more importantly delivered the goods -in Burkinshaw's case after managing to get the team relegated in his first season at the helm.

Thank God back then there were no phone-ins. Thank God back then newspapers had to report on football matches and not make up rumours in order to speculate on them.

I am saddened by the news of Jol's demise, but was immensely proud to be a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur last night. Why? Simple really, Sportingo allows me, the Joe average supporter, a voice. And that voice says to all of you who called for the big man's head, even last term - you're not Spurs supporters. You may think you are, you may buy the shirt or even a season ticket, but you'll never be a true supporter because you have joined the ranks of the Fleet Street scum by allowing the good guy to lose out to pressure by your constant sniping on this and other sites.

Why is it - because you can't handle Arsenal's success? Or because you've won the league on your playstation for the 18th time and therefore know all about the game?

Well, being a Spurs supporter means that one day an honourable man (be it Nicholson, Burkinshaw or Jol) comes around and creates a team or teams that play football the Tottenham way. In between we endure, we don't envy. Because whoever is flavour of the month isn't Spurs, so who cares?

We support , like last night, the good guy. We don't take snide kicks and then some to finish the job off. Well done, but you'll never be real Spurs supporters in a million years...and you know it!

What's your take on the departure of Martin Jol? Post your comments below or submit an article of your own to Sportingo.