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Board to blame for Jol 'failure'Premier League Tottenham Hotspur by Sam Lyon - BBC Sport (U7305341) 25 October 2007   The writing may have been on the wall for Martin Jol for weeks, but the fact his departure as Tottenham manager emerged during the Londoners’ huge Uefa Cup match against Getafe only serves to put a cap on a farcical few months from the Spurs board. While many Spurs fans will be hailing this as the day their season and European push was finally put on track, more will be bidding Jol farewell with a heavy heart Nor can a cast-iron case be made that, by the time Braulio had fired Getafe’s winner on Thursday night, Jol should have been given the chance to turn it around.However, what is clear is that chairman Daniel Levy et al have offered precious little support to Jol in the past few weeks. An initial lukewarm denial of reports of the meeting with Ramos was followed by an equally tepid insistence that Jol’s job had not been offered to anyone else. An all-too-late statement from Levy that Jol had his “100% support” in late August did little to dampen the flames – everyone knew, the Dutchman no longer had the support of the Spurs board. After that, results ensured the end would come sooner rather than later. One win in 10 Premier League games is not good enough for a side targeting European football. Reports of bust-ups with Berbatov, of training-ground rows with the players, and a defensive record so poor only Derby’s is worse at present, added to the weight of opinion that Jol had to go. But, while many Spurs fans will be hailing this as the day their season and European push was finally put on track, more will be bidding Jol farewell with heavy heart. Yes, when Jol finally walked out of White Hart Lane for the last time on Thursday, many will have believed he had to go. But had he enjoyed the unwavering support of the board from day one this season, who’s to say Spurs would ever have found themselves in such a lowly position? That, as it filtered around White Hart Lane during the Getafe defeat that Jol had left the club, the home fans chanted the Dutchman’s name again and again tells you how appreciative they are of his time in North London. With a record of 67 wins from 152 games – 44.08% - Jol finishes as one of the most successful Spurs bosses ever, and he will be missed by fans and the media alike. If widespread rumours are to be believed, Sevilla’s Ramos – the man who masterminded Spurs’ Uefa Cup exit last season – is the man Levy and Co are backing to do better. He is a man who might just have the tools to take Tottenham to another level and, should he do so, the treatment of Jol will long be forgotten by supporters. But, after witnessing the way Jol has been forced out of the door, the Spaniard could be forgiven for taking his time in agreeing to succeed the popular Dutchman. Latest 10 commentsRead members' comments or add your own
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Token_Cockney (U8577070) posted Oct 29, 2007 I think on the whole Spurs get exactely what they deserve. Nothing. If they had Wenger as manager, they would have probably sacked him by now.
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Finn723 (U6728793) posted Oct 29, 2007 To be fair they were talking to people about jols job after 1 game and plenty of good teams lose their first game. We wouldnt have been in 11th after 10 games if they hadnt have done this.
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cockney1 (U10210723) posted Oct 30, 2007 I believe the way the Tottenham Board have behaved in treating MJ has made the club a laughing stock of english football, the gunners fans especially must be laughing all the way to the pub!
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Eardmont (U10162184) posted Oct 30, 2007 MJ sad loss to the Spurs, but hey what about Chris Hughton - 30 years a Spur !!
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jelbot (U3222571) posted Oct 30, 2007 The board were wrong. If they had just backed him like they said they would then we would not have lost so many games. They started the rot. MJ was awesome for us and it is completely the boards fault. Cheers for everything Martin.
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ukhippychick (U894079) posted Nov 4, 2007 I used to hold my head when I said I was a Spurs fan, now I mumble it with head down I'm so ashamed of what the board has done to Jol.
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Spurs Fan For Life 92 (U9378789) posted Mar 2, 2008 me and my dad watched the game and we shouted stand up for martin jol in the living room!
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svigos (U8157443) posted Mar 6, 2008 <<me and my dad watched the game and we shouted stand up for martin jol in the living room!>>
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JustMeFF (U13467651)
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Censura (U1681115) posted Oct 16, 2008 Move on for heavnes sake - the Clog has gone! Comment on this article
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