October 27, 2007	Saturday	Shawwal 14, 1428

LONDON, Oct 26: Tottenham Hotspur could do with some of the fearsome striking power Clive Allen showed as a player as he prepares his shell-shocked team for their Premier League match with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

Allen, who scored a club record 49 goals in the 1986-87 season for Tottenham, is currently the club’s Development Coach and will take temporary charge of the team following the sacking of Dutch manager Martin Jol and his assistant Chris Hughton on Thursday.

Although most of Spurs’ problems have been in defence this season, the attack has also been misfiring and Allen, with his assistant Alex Inglethorpe, will want to see a big improvement in all parts of the team.

Spurs, who were beaten 2-1 at home by Getafe of Spain in their opening UEFA Cup group match on Thursday, are currently in the relegation zone of the Premier League with just one win from their opening 10 league matches.

With a somewhat ironic sense of timing, Spurs face a Blackburn side managed by Mark Hughes, who has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane.

However, bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Spaniard Juande Ramos succeeding Jol.

The Sevilla coach has long been regarded as the leading contender to succeed the Dutchman, but he might not move from Spain so easily.

The club are currently doing well in their first season in the Champions League after winning the UEFA Cup for the last two seasons.

Sevilla are loathe to let him leave and could instigate court proceedings against the 53-year-old if he should decide to go, according to one report in Spain.

British media reports have linked Ramos with a move to London, with former Spurs midfielder, the Uruguayan Gus Poyet, currently at Leeds United, as his assistant.

Whoever comes to Spurs will certainly have to impress and do so quickly.

Their fans backed Jol despite the poor start to the season and gave him a standing ovation, singing his name repeatedly once word filtered through to them that he had been sacked on Thursday.

Songs about Spurs chairman Daniel Levy were far less polite, but he said: “For me, Martin and Chris’ departure is regrettable. Our greatest wish was to see results turn in our favour and for there to be no need for change. They have been professional, popular and respected members of the coaching staff and there will always be a warm welcome for them both at the Lane.”—Reuters