TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR'S chairman, Daniel Levy, said yesterday that he had taken the "drastic" decision to sack Juande Ramos because he believed that the coach had lost control of key players.
The chairman acted on Saturday, bringing in Harry Redknapp after Spurs had lost 2-0 at Udinese 48 hours earlier in the Uefa Cup, a tie they finished with 10 men. Previously they had lost at Stoke City to make it two points and five goals from eight Premier League matches - their worst ever start to a season. At Stoke, they finished the game with nine men.
"For a club of this size to be in the position we were in when we weren't scoring goals and there were clearly some issues in the dressingroom between the manager and some of the players," Levy said, "we could not allow the situation to go on for long."
"It was plain to see that some of the players weren't performing as well as you'd expect. Certain players were perhaps being more publicly vocal than you'd expect. The fact we were getting all those red cards and weren't scoring, losing games . . . all those things were having an impact."
Jonathan Woodgate had said that the team was worse than the relegated Leeds side he had played in while David Bentley claimed that the players did not know "where people were running, what people were doing".
"I just think it reached a point where I had to do something drastic and unexpected because we have a group of very talented players," said Levy, who has since seen Spurs defeat Bolton and draw at Arsenal.
"All of a sudden, we are scoring goals. I can't believe it's the same set of players. We don't know whether Juande would have been able to turn it around. I couldn't afford to take that risk."
Levy announced plans for a 60,000-seat stadium yesterday, to be delivered on and around the Wingate trading estate to the north of the current site, and he has turned down an offer for the club from a private-equity company. "It wasn't something we considered was a fair price," he said.
Levy, who has committed €56 million to buying up land for the development, estimates that planning will take 12 to 24 months and the building of it three years. Naming rights will be essential for the funding.
Les Ferdinand, a former Spurs striker, last night said he would welcome the chance to join Redknapp's coaching staff.
Meanwhile, David Beckham will join AC Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy in January after the deal was sealed with his lawyers, the Serie A club said yesterday. "AC Milan announces David Beckham's arrival on loan. Agreement has been reached and it is official," said a statement on the club's website (www.acmilan.com). "The English player will be a Rossonero from January 7th, 2009." No details were given on when the loan deal would end.
However, Milan's sporting director Umberto Gandini said: "He (Beckham) has a commitment to go back to the MLS and I think he will do that."
Since news of the proposed deal broke this month, Beckham, US Major League Soccer and a slightly reluctant Galaxy all said he would return to Los Angeles for the start of the new season in late March.
The 33-year-old is joining Milan to keep up his fitness during the United States' close season and stay in contention for an England squad place. He has 107 caps and needs two more to beat Bobby Moore's England record for an outfield player.
The MLS regular season finished at the weekend with Galaxy failing to make the play-offs.
England coach Fabio Capello, who dropped Beckham while they were together at Real Madrid, said his former club Milan were doing good business. But he did not say whether the midfielder's loan move would help his international prospects. "Milan have made a good addition," Capello was quoted as saying in Italian media.
Milan, who failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, moved above city rivals Inter into third on Wednesday after a 2-1 home win over Siena.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti traditionally does not play with wingers but has welcomed the arrival of the former Manchester United player Beckham as it gives him more options.
