• Premier League

Player power forced Levy to act over Sherwood

Tottenham's decision to sack Tim Sherwood came through fears that some of the club's big name stars would have left the club if the former player had kept his job.

The Times claims that, while the club admitted results under Sherwood had been good enough, chairman Daniel Levy was forced to act on Tuesday lunchtime because he was worried by the former head of football development's outspoken nature, both towards the board and his players.

He publicly fell out with midfielder Sandro earlier this season and the Brazilian, who claimed the dressing room had been downbeat under Sherwood, admitted to ESPN he had been looking forward to head coach's departure. Furthermore, Sherwood's persistent refusal to play club-record signing Erik Lamela, who he maintained was injured, also caused friction between him and the board.

The 45-year-old stated qualification for the Europa League is where the club was at, but was critical of his side's chances of making the Champions League. Sherwood suggested Spurs had no divine right to make Europe's top competition, particularly with seven new players brought in last summer following Gareth Bale's sale to Real Madrid.

Those players came in with no Premier League experience and, in April, Sherwood admitted to not knowing his best XI and that his squad was a "much of a muchness".

Sherwood left the club just five months into the 18-month contract he was awarded in December to replace the departed Andre Villas-Boas. Following his sacking, Sherwood maintained it was a "massive wrench" to leave the club, where he became the eighth manager to depart in Levy 's 13 years in charge.

Before Tottenham's season-ending victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, Sherwood revealed some of his own players had told him he would be sacked at the end of the season. He previously made it clear he would not play second fiddle should the Spurs opt to bring in a more experienced manager and, while maintaining he wanted to stay and manage the club, had become tired of Levy's continued silence over his future.

Sherwood, who compared himself to a supply teacher struggling to earn respect from his students, left after achieving a win rate of 59% - the highest of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.

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