Journalist claims there is ‘no chance’ of 48-year-old getting the Tottenham job

The Athletic’s James Maw has said that there is ‘no chance’ of Cristian Stellini being handed the Tottenham job permanently at the end of the season.

Tottenham’s decision to appoint Stellini as interim head coach and Ryan Mason as his assistant came as a surprise as many would have expected Conte’s loyal assistant to follow him out of the door at Spurs.

Some reports have indicated that Conte gave Stellini his blessings to stay on until the end of the season and help the team finish in the top four (Telegraph).

The 48-year-old did take charge of the side almost through the entirety of February when Conte was recovering in Italy from his gall-bladder surgery, and he boasts of an excellent record when he has overseen proceedings.

Tottenham have been linked with a whole host of managerial candidates over the last couple of weeks but so far, there have been no suggestions that Stellini or Mason could be given the position full-time.

Discussing that possibility, Maw said on The View from The Lane Podcast: “They have the chance of salvaging the season and he’s made a decision that nobody saw coming.

“The only possible scenario that works for Daniel Levy in this is if they go on a winning run and he can then declare himself a genius and then he will have to give Stellini the job full-time.

“I’d say there’s no chance of that happening. I think it’s quite different right?

“Tim Sherwood sort of did ok, broadly speaking, and he never got the job and he was never going to despite them pretending that he might.

“I wouldn’t worry about that, if they ever had to have that awkward conversation then I’m sure it would be fine.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It would not be wise to hand Stellini or Mason the job even if Tottenham were to go on an excellent run as there is always the risk of doubts creeping in next season the first time the team goes on a bad run.

However, if Stellini were to do well in the next ten games, he could well receive a few job offers from around Europe at the end of the season.