Southampton v Tottenham: Tim Sherwood wants Spurs' job on a permanent basis but accepts his future is not in his hands

Sherwood will once again take charge of Spurs for their trip to St Mary's as they look to bounce back from their League Cup exit on Wednesday

Tim Sherwood (GETTY IMAGES)

Tim Sherwood said today that he wants the Tottenham Hotspur manager’s job on a permanent basis but urged the chairman Daniel Levy to set out a vision for the club that will end the short-termism and the high turnover of managers.

Sherwood, 44, took charge for the Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham on Wednesday, a 2-1 defeat, and said after the game that he was unsure whether he would be in charge for Sunday’s visit to Southampton. However, he will take the team for that game and said at the club’s Enfield training ground that he would like the job full-time if it was on terms he felt were acceptable.

Asked whether he wanted the job Sherwood said that he would, pending a discussion with Levy. “We have to speak about it long-term with the chairman. If it’s down to me I’m getting a ten-year contract now! Football doesn’t work like that. It’s all about getting results. I listen to managers all the time talking about ‘projects’. The project is you win games or you get sacked. End of story.”

He added: “I know all about the football club. I played here, it’s my club. I know what the supporters want. I know what they demand. As I say it ain’t my decision to make the appointments and we have to respect the men who take that decision.

“I know the players we have got here and I know the good young talent that is coming through the club. It’s up to the club. I need to talk about philosophies. What are we looking to do? Are we looking to buy players or are we looking to bring them through? All this has to be taken into consideration when I decide whether it is right for me or not.”

Sherwood said that he would not be prepared to be an assistant to a potential incoming manager. However, he did not clarify whether he would be prepared to go back to his role as technical co-ordinator, overseeing the development teams, should he not become the first team manager in the long-term. He said he expected to speak to Levy over the next few days about the future.

Asked about the possibility of Frank De Boer, the Ajax coach being appointed, Sherwood said it was inevitable that big names would be linked with the job. He said: “They are all good guys, all good managers. We have had good managers at this club.

“It has got to fit, the club and the manager to be compatible. It’s not always about the biggest name. He might have done well at another club. He might not do well at this one. It is up to the chairman and the board to make the correct decision which is right for the long term future of the club. It’s not right to keep changing managers.”

Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen will both miss the game on Sunday with the Belgian defender still, Sherwood said, “quite a way away”. Andros Townsend is out the game after his hamstring tear against West Ham although Sherwood was reluctant to put a timescale on his likely recovery. Michael Dawson comes back from suspension.