Tottenham dealt instant blow as manager breaks silence on job in public statement

Tottenham Hotspur are scrambling for their third manager this season, but the north Londoners have been dealt a huge blow after one candidate made their decision

Tottenham Hotspur managerial candidate Adolf 'Adi' Hutter has appeared to rule himself out of replacing Igor Tudor this season. The Austrian recently held talks with the north Londoners about the potential of taking up the reins, according to reports from France.

Tudor's departure from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was confirmed by the club on March 29th. Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange are now scrambling for their next boss, with coach Bruno Saltor understood to be taking training sessions for the next few days.

However, it now appears the Spurs supremos have lost one of their key candidates. The Austrian has made it clear he will not be managing anybody until, at least, this summer.

He recently told German media: "In recent days and weeks, I have been increasingly linked with various clubs. However, as I already stated immediately after my time at Monaco, I would prefer not to work as a head coach again until the start of the new season at the earliest. My position on this matter has not changed since then.”

This is a huge setback for Venkatesham and Lange. Hutter has an impressive reputation in the Bundesliga and is also a free agent, having left Monaco in October last year. Tottenham have also been strongly linked with a move for Roberto De Zerbi, who is also a free agent having left Marseille in February.

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However, the Italian's support for ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, who moved to Marseille and played under the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion boss, not long after the ex-England international saw charges of one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm be dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, has resulted in fan groups being against the potential appointment.

The links to De Zerbi resulted in Tottenham fan groups Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach petitioning the club to not consider appointing him. In a statement, Women of the Lane wrote: "We want to be clear about how this (speculation) is landing with many women and allies in our community.

"De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. That raises serious questions about judgement and leadership. This is not an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make.”

As well as De Zerbi and Hutter, former Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has been earmarked as a replacement. Ryan Mason has also been linked with a third spell as interim manager, but the ex-Spurs midfielder has just had an underwhelming spell as West Brom manager.

Robbie Keane, who is currently in charge of Hungarian giants Ferencvaros has also been earmarked as a potential replacement, as he was when Thomas Frank was sacked.

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