Tottenham have no intention of relieving head coach Tim Sherwood of his duties, a source has told ESPN FC.
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Sherwood’s passionate postmatch attack on his players following Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Chelsea sparked suggestions that the club may be tempted to change their lead tactician for a second time this season, following Andre Villas-Boas’s departure last December.
Yet it seems Sherwood will be allowed to continue in the job until the end of the season at the very least, after he has received the backing of chairman Daniel Levy in a meeting on Monday.
Sherwood declared "the silence was deafening" from the Tottenham hierarchy when he was asked about his long-term future in the job and also said he would never be a No. 2, but club sources have confirmed there is no question of the 45-year-old leaving his post any time soon.
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has been strongly linked with the Tottenham job when his duties at the World Cup finals in Brazil end next summer, while Ajax coach Frank de Boer has also spoken about his interest in the position.
Sherwood has a contract to be Tottenham manager until the summer of 2015 and the club have made it clear that his continuing in the role is not dependent on the club finishing in a top four finish this season.
However, the former Blackburn and Tottenham midfielder has been very open about his expectations for a long-term stay in the White Hart Lane hotseat in recent weeks, as he accepts his future is dependent on results this season.
“If I don't match the expectations of the club then I will be off,” he said last month. “I know there are big expectations at Tottenham and it is my job to try and live up to them.”
Tottenham face a Europa League last-16 tie against Benfica at White Hart Lane on Thursday, before a must-win north London derby against Arsenal on home soil this Sunday.