Andre Villas-Boas sacked by Tottenham - and given '£4.5m payout': Spurs announce 'termination of services' following 5-0 defeat to Liverpool

The Portuguese manager had been in charge since the summer of 2012

Andre Villas-Boas's future at Tottenham is in doubt after the humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Andre Villas-Boas following the club’s 5-0 defeat to Liverpool yesterday, with the club now looking at a temporary appointment until the end of the season to try to secure Champions League qualification.

It is reported by the Evening Standard that his payout will be £4.5m.

The future of the Portuguese coach has been discussed at length at White Hart Lane over the last few weeks with chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Franco Baldini coming to the decision that the 36-year-old is no longer the man for the job. Any major call such as this one has to be rubber-stamped by Joe Lewis, who exercises ultimate control over the club through parent company Enic.

Increasingly isolated at the club, and with his relationship with Baldini deteriorating, Villas-Boas barely survived the 6-0 defeat to Manchester City. Villas-Boas had originally welcomed the appointment of the Italian, who had worked with Fabio Capello and the England team, however the £110m spending spree on seven players, overseen by Baldini, has failed so far to improve the team's fortunes.

As blame is passed back and forth at the club, especially over the Roma winger Erik Lamela, a record signing at £30m, it would appear that Baldini has won his political battle with Villas-Boas. The head coach had failed to gather support around him and has largely been left with his Portuguese assistants as his remaining allies at the club.

If Levy was to make a short-term appointment within the club, he could turn to the former player, Tim Sherwood, until the end of the season. Sherwood is currently responsible for all the development teams beneath the first team. He has a reputation for being fairly outspoken himself. The club are keen that whoever comes in makes use of the seven new signings in the first team, especially Lamela.

In a statement, Tottenham said: "The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services. The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties. We wish Andre well for the future.

"We shall make a further announcement in due course."

Related articles...

Lineker backs Hoddle to replace AVB

AVB contract 'terminated' by Tottenham

AVB becomes NINTH Spurs manager since Wenger took over at Arsenal

AVB factfile