Tottenham have confirmed they have parted ways with interim boss Cristian Stellini as their season reaches a new farcical low.
Stellini was only appointed last month after Antonio Conte was sacked as head coach following a downturn in results. However, his old assistant has failed to turn the tide, culminating in the humiliating 6-1 defeat at Newcastle.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has confirmed the Italian’s immediate departure, along with the coaching staff. Ryan Mason has been named as the club’s second interim head coach in as many months.
In an explosive statement, which labelled Sunday's performance as "wholly unacceptable", Levy confirmed he had liaised with players, who were behind the decision to change managers again.
The statement from Levy reads: “Sunday’s performance against Newcastle was wholly unacceptable. It was devastating to see. We can look at many reasons why it happened and whilst myself, the Board, the coaches and players must all take collective responsibility, ultimately the responsibility is mine.
“Cristian will leave his current role along with his coaching staff. Cristian stepped in at a difficult point in our season and I want to thank him for the professional manner in which he and his coaching staff have conducted themselves during such a challenging time. We wish him and his staff well.
“Ryan Mason will take over Head Coach duties with immediate effect. Ryan knows the Club and the players well. We shall update further on his coaching staff in due course.
“I met with the Player Committee today - the squad is determined to pull together to ensure the strongest possible finish to the season. We are all clear we need to deliver performances which earn your amazing support.”
The decision to keep on Stellini after sacking Conte was widely condemned, with Jamie Carragher slamming the club and telling them to “get a proper manager” after losing on Tyneside.
Mason will now be given his second crack at the caretaker manager position, having also assumed the role following the departure of Jose Mourinho in 2021. The 31-year-old oversaw seven games during his first stint, including the EFL Cup final which they lost to Manchester City at Wembley.
In total, he recorded four wins and three defeats before being replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo, who was in turn succeeded by Conte.
Stellini on the other hand won just one of his four matches in charge, with damaging results against relegation strugglers Everton and Bournemouth denting their top-four hopes before the demolition by Newcastle. It means that Tottenham will, in all likelihood, miss out on Champions League football and the financial rewards which accompany qualification.
A lack of elite European football could also hamper their search for a permanent successor to Conte, with talks ongoing over an appointment at the end of the season. Julian Nagelsmann remains in the frame for the position, while the idea of Mauricio Pochettino had been mooted - although he now looks set to take the vacant Chelsea job.
Stellini's position became untenable following this weekend's defeat in the North East, which he admitted he had failed to prepare his side for. Spurs changed to a four at the back for the first time this season and he could only watch on flabbergasted as the hosts bulldozed them with five goals in the opening 21 minutes.
“We were not prepared to play this type of tough game. To be prepared means to be ready to suffer, to be ready to control the space and be ready to fight. But this? We were not prepared," he told Sky Sports.
“We had a good mood before the game, but if you don’t show your mood during the game, then you are not prepared. Maybe the system being changed created a different idea between me and what the players thought.”
