• Premier League

Sherwood: I won't be anyone's assistant

Tim Sherwood was highly critical of his players after defeat by Chelsea © Getty Images

Enlarge

Tim Sherwood says he would "never want to be a No.2" as he hinted he wants to become technical director if Louis van Gaal replaces him as Tottenham manager in the summer.

Sherwood took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December but after overseeing an initial upturn in fortunes, Spurs have struggled for consistency and on Saturday were beaten 4-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Despite being handed an 18-month contract, there have been signs Sherwood is only in fact a stop-gap manager until chairman Daniel Levy can appoint a more experienced successor.

Holland coach Van Gaal has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs after leading his country at this summer's World Cup, saying specifically that a move to White Hart Lane is a possibility, and it not passed Sherwood by.

However, should he be replaced, the former Blackburn Rovers and England midfielder has no plans to continue as assistant to Van Gaal.

"The silence is deafening isn't it," Sherwood, who is waiting for confirmation on his club future, said after the Chelsea defeat. "It's up to Daniel. It's up to the club to make that decision.

"One thing I guarantee people is that no one cares more than me. I want the team to do very well and it hurts me when they don't. I'm afraid I need people in that dressing room to be hurting like I am.

"I never want to be a No.2. I'd be no good as a No.2. I'm too opinionated. I wouldn't want to do the job, but I do think there is a place for a technical director.

"I'm someone who sees the club from the bottom to the top on the training field. There's a definite place for that. A lot of clubs need people like that otherwise you get no continuity and you just end up buying seven or ten players every window and your turnover of players is too great."

The heavy loss to Chelsea put a huge dent in Tottenham's hopes of securing a top four finish this season, and prompted Sherwood to attack his players afterwards.

"We lack something don't we?" Sherwood asked. "Capitulations are happening too often to say that we are rock solid and blessed with so many characters.

"In adversity when things go against us, that's when we are going missing. In my opinion you have either got it in you or you haven't. More and more we need to stand up and be counted and sooner rather than later".

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd