Reacting to reports of a ‘civil war’ at Tottenham, some Spurs fans have questioned the role of the club’s technical performance director, Steve Hitchen.
Football Insider claimed on Monday that Nuno Espirito Santo was not one of the leading candidates considered for the Tottenham job when Hitchen was in charge of the managerial search.
It was explained that Nuno was only considered as a candidate following the appointment of Fabio Paratici as the club’s managing director of football.
The report further added that Hitchen has washed his hands of the Portuguese coach’s appointment and made it clear privately that the decision had nothing to do with him.
Reacting to these reports, some Tottenham fans on social media have taken Paratici’s side on the matter and questioned what Hitchen brings to the club.
Several fans pointed to the club’s poor recruitment record with Hitchen being at the helm over the last few years.
Hitchen’s private stance on the matter is that Nuno’s appointment has “nothing to do with him”. If this is true my opinion is lower than after the documentary
— Ferg (@SenorFergie) October 4, 2021
What exactly are Steve Hitchen's credentials to be anywhere near a scouting/directorial role at a club the size of Spurs?
What scouting successes has he made for the club?
He played 150 times for Macclesfield.
Now we have Paratici's Serie A Hotline, what's the point in Hitchen?— 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙 𝘿𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙚 ©𝐖.𝐈.𝐍. 𝐂𝐎𝐘𝐒 (@djsa2go) October 5, 2021
Couldn't have one day to enjoy ourselves lol 💀 https://t.co/NWjoqAPaSY
— ᑕOᗪY ᗰᗩᑕ (@CoMacDo) October 4, 2021
Steve was asked what he thought of the appointment of Nuno… https://t.co/1mjNgQTCtN pic.twitter.com/oiXreO03q0
— Ash (@Blockybees2021) October 4, 2021
Hitchen unhappy with Nuno because he would’ve liked Southgate instead. The man’s a fraud, before Patrici the only CB we would’ve gotten was relegated Anderson. Him and Nuno can fuck off out of my club https://t.co/OoAe3Ricye
— Jacob Knight (@jacob_knight112) October 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/lazqetjohnson/status/1445101458647564295
https://twitter.com/CheyanneBezzle/status/1445145781971914755
The Steve Hitchen that has successfully signed no resounding successes for 5 years? That one yeah? His opinion counts for shit.
— Oro Digital Markets (@OroMarkets) October 4, 2021
Probably the same “senior figures” that got Poch, Jose the sack, and surely now Nuno. Need to get rid of the deadwood, there’s too many of them around
— Profit Before Glory FC #enicout (@shamster1979) October 4, 2021
Spurs Web Opinion
We have to take these reports with a pinch of salt as no credible sources have indicated that there is bad blood between Paratici and Hitchen.
Hitchen certainly gets a lot of unwarranted stick from Spurs fans, which I have a hard time understanding, especially given that none of us knows the ins and outs of how the recruitment department at Spurs functions.