• Premier League

Sherwood faces job review in summer

Tim Sherwood signed an 18-month contract at Tottenham in December © PA Photos

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Tim Sherwood faces an end-of-season performance review at Tottenham but the club insist there is nothing sinister about it.

Spurs issued a statement on Monday night after claims they had decided to replace their head coach in the summer.

However, the statement failed to clarify the future of Sherwood, who was appointed on an 18-month contract earlier this season, and it has been widely reported for some time that his reign at White Hart Lane would be short lived.

Sherwood coy but Adebayor wants his stay

Adebayor backs Tim Sherwood © Getty Images

• Following Tottenham's 5-1 hammering of relegation-stricken Sunderland on Monday, manager Tim Sherwood insisted his future in charge at White Hart Lane remained out of his hands.
• However, a resurgent Emmanuel Adebayor, who scored twice to down Gus Poyet's side, has admitted that he wants Sherwood to stay on.
• Read the full story here

Shortly before Tottenham's 5-1 Premier League hammering of Sunderland, a spokesman for the club said: "The board will meet with Tim, as would be normal, at the end of the season, to review how things have progressed. Anything else at this stage is speculation."

Tottenham are currently sixth in the Premier League table, five points behind Arsenal in the last Champions League spot. Spurs also trail fifth-placed Everton by four points, while Roberto Martinez's side also have a game in hand.

Speaking ahead of his side's rout over Sunderland, Sherwood told Sky Sports: "I can't say much now. What I can say is tonight is business as usual. I'm setting this team up to win a football match for the benefit of the club and the 35,000 Spurs fans who will come and watch. I'll speak at a later stage."

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has been strongly linked with the Spurs job after chairman Daniel Levy was said to be upset with Louis van Gaal's public pronouncements about meetings they held.

The Dutchman, who is set to vacate his position as Netherlands manager after the World Cup, admitted in March his "ambition is to coach a top team in the Premier League" and is hopeful of taking charge of White Hart Lane r Manchester United.

Former England manager Fabio Capello, now in charge of Russia, has also been one linked to the Spurs job, as has ex-Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo and former Swansea manager Michael Laudrup.

Tottenham's recent heavy defeat by Liverpool and the reaction of fans are said to be two factors which have worked against Sherwood.

If he is stood down from his post Sherwood, the eighth manager to be appointed by Levy in 13 years, could be asked to take up a different role. However, he has made it clear that he would refuse to work as a No.2 to any replacement should the club decide to name a ninth.

Sherwood was given his chance on a full-time basis for 18 months after he guided the side to a 3-2 win at Southampton as interim boss last December. He took over from Andre Villas-Boas, who was forced out after the 5-0 loss to Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Sherwood enjoyed wins in five of his first six games in charge of the side he previously played for. However, the promising start soon faded with exits from the FA Cup and Europa League.

His team have lost four times in their last six league games and have faltered at a critical point in the campaign as hopes, inspired by the spending of more than £100 million on new players last summer, of a title bid or qualification for the Champions League have slipped away.

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