Two top senior directors want to get into the Spurs act
A bit of tongue in cheek article, then again, maybe not!
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett believes that the club (probably meaning Levy) may have to talk with two of their directors, Fabio Paratici and Steve Hitchen, over their antics in the dugout during matches.
It is unusual for directors to sit in the dugout to get into the limelight. Still, Paractici and Hitchen have regularly been spotted on various occasions sitting (and jumping up and down like demented chumps) behind the bench a few times this season, often trying to encourage the players out on the pitch.
Now the reason, according to people in the know, is that Paratici and Hitchen have taken up such a position is due to COVID-19 protocols set by the Premier League (I knew there was a good excuse there, somewhere), which requires players and staff in the ‘red zone’ of testing to be seated together in a specific area. Sorted! Or is it?
Now, that may be well and good, nevertheless, some players within the squad have voiced their concerns (that is, they feel “uncomfortable”) with the two star-struck directors in the dugout because of their animated and energetic behaviour particularly towards match officials.
So up steps Hackett the Jacket – the referee extraordinaire and celebrity wannabee whistleblower – and voiced his opinion and concerns. To cut to the chase, he believes that the Spurs’ director of football and technical director must be careful over their movements, activities or whatever you want to call it, and what they say when they are situated in the technical area, adding that their position could impact the work of match officials.
Hackett speaking to Football Insider web magazine, said: “Often we don’t know who they are. But in European competitions, the people in the technical area are named, and their position highlighted. If, as a referee or fourth official, you are unhappy with any occupant of the technical area, you can take action. I think this is an interesting one. In their position, they have to be very careful about what they say and what they shout. It’s an internal matter, and it’s unusual. Usually, you’ll have a doctor, the technical staff and the coaching staff and the places are limited. It’s a tight family, so if the players are unhappy, then they should talk to the manager, and the manager has got a difficult task of saying they can’t come on the bench. In Europe, there’s a very clear limit on how many people can be in the technical area, and it’s a competition rule. They cannot be breaking the Premier League rules because they’ve been allowed to sit there.”
My thoughts
Even though this has been going on for some time, it is an unsual one, and as far as I know (and I could be wrong), it doesn’t happen in any other club.
Some have suggested that they are star-struck celebrity watchers; others have suggested that, as Fabio Paratici recommended Nuno to the club as their Head Coach, he, along with his side-kick, Steve Hitchen, want to make sure that Nuno doesn’t deviate from the scrip and drop them into the shit and dent their reputations. To be honest, there have been many strange goings-on, and rumours from behind the scene at Tottenham; talk of power struggles, unhappiness, and different points of view in how the club and team should be managed… or promoted.
I certainly don’t believe the bullshit about Premier League rules as it is only us(Spurs) that this problem has shown itself.
Of course, some have said that it is quite refreshing to see some energy and passion from some of the higher up powers at the club; well, that is true. We certainly don’t see it from Levy and the other Board members, especially in the open air in front of fans and TV cameras (heavens up, to be caught showing passion for the club they manage in front of paying fans… it could be construed that they actually cared).
As for spurring on Nuno or even the players, that would be insulting, and if they wanted that job, then they should have appointed themselves rather than Nuno.
Whatever the reason for their antics, they are certainly not thinkers and thought it through; how their performances might be construed in front of the media, world and fans… unless they did and were too arrogant to care! Or maybe you have another take on it?
All the best, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
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Those two Directors should not be undermining the manager by communicating with the players from the technical area. They should be in the directors box behaving like senior executives of the club.
Agreed… you do wonder what they are thinking off.
The phrase too many chiefs comes to mind! They must be influencing how or the way the players play! They I would imagine they outrank Nuno so to speak. So is Nuno making the decisions of team line up or tactics or is he a puppet to take the fall when or if it goes wrong. Seems to answer why we get through so many managers! Bit like an accountant running a business on cost and not ability.