Igor Tudor’s departure from Tottenham after just seven matches is no surprise, but Spurs must get this final roll of the dice right to maintain their Premier League status says Sky Sports News‘ Michael Bridge…

I do think it was inevitable – what we wanted to know was when they were going to do it. Of course, Igor Tudor was informed that his father had passed away literally seconds after Spurs lost against Nottingham Forest and he laid his father Mario to rest in Croatia on Wednesday.

So, you’d imagine that the Tottenham board had decided that they were going to make another change, one final roll of the dice in this terrible season.

Spurs have got to think of themselves. Relegation is absolutely unthinkable, but it’s so very possible.

Tudor was very well liked within the club, his exit is a mutual decision and he leaves on good terms with the hierarchy.

You saw an improvement against Liverpool away, which was a very unexpected 1-1 draw, a good performance in the second leg against Atletico Madrid, but the pressure was off a little bit there.

Then it came to that key game, Nottingham Forest, and you had supporters outside the ground pre-match urging the team on, but they didn’t get a reaction.

Spurs played alright in the first half, but when they went 1-0 down their heads really dropped. The second half was one to forget.

They could be in the relegation zone by the time they go to the Stadium of Light in two weeks.

Next head coach has plenty of time to settle in

The plan is to appoint a new head coach in the coming days. They will be in place for when the players return from international duty. The players will have plenty of time with their new boss, whether it is a permanent one or interim, ahead of that absolutely massive match against Sunderland, live on Sky Sports.

Sunday 12th April 1:00pm


Kick off 2:00pm

Tottenham had to ask the question: ‘do we have a better chance of staying in the Premier League with or without Igor Tudor?’ They’ve decided the latter.

With one point from five league games in charge, it’s hard to argue with that decision.

Tottenham fans know this is more deep rooted

I think the vast majority of supporters will be wishing Tudor well. Not just because of this awful news regarding his father, but because the fans realise this is more deep rooted.

This is years of recruitment not going right. Players that have left the club and those coming in not replacing them adequately. This is about injury after injury. Their captain getting a four-game suspension. Their stand-in captain getting sent off against Crystal Palace.

Tudor and other managers before have said they haven’t known anything like this. Managers are saying it often. At the moment, it looks a very difficult job indeed. The job over the next seven games is extremely tough.

PL experience vital – who next for Tottenham?

It doesn’t necessarily need to be someone with the ‘Spurs DNA’. I don’t think it needs to be someone who sings Chaz and Dave in their car. It’s got to be someone with Premier League experience.

Someone who knows what it is like to go to Wolves away. Someone who knows what it is like to face Leeds at home in a few weeks. Brighton in a couple weeks.

We know Igor Tudor was appointed to put out fires. He did it at Juventus and Lazio. But he hasn’t done it with a club that was trying to stay in the Premier League.

The fact is, it didn’t happen. They lost against Crystal Palace. They lost against Fulham. From the very start it was looking extremely difficult for him.

Tottenham is still a very attractive club to many managers. That’s why Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho took the role. It’s why Maurcio Pochettino has said he would love to go back. It’s why our understanding is Roberto De Zerbi would be interested in the role in the summer.

These are two very different Tottenham Hotspurs. It’s a big club, sure, but it could be one of the riskiest moves you make in management.

The new boss could be the one that sees Spurs relegated. Or, in the summer, Tottenham stay in the Premier League and big names come in for it again.

It’s going to be a huge decision.

Tottenham’s remaining seven games

• April 12: Sunderland (a), Premier League – kick-off 2.15pm, live on Sky Sports
• April 18: Brighton (h), Premier League – kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports
• April 25: Wolves (a), Premier League – kick-off 3pm
• May 2: Aston Villa (a), Premier League – kick-off 12.30pm
• May 9: Leeds (h), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
• May 17: Chelsea (a), Premier League, kick-off 3pm
• May 24: Everton (h), Premier League, kick-off 4pm

Sky Sports News special: Inside Spurs

On Thursday, April 2 at 7pm, Sky Sports News will be airing a special programme about Spurs’ issues with their ever-present Premier League status under serious threat.

‘Inside Spurs’ will feature special guests, including Jamie O’Hara, to dissect, analyse and examine the club’s woes and predicament as they stare at a first relegation in 49 years.