Daniel Levy will ultimately make the decision on the next Tottenham manager.
But Levy’s decision to make director of football Fabio Paratici central to the recruitment process continues to surprise people within the game. Paratici is appealing the 30-month ban from the Italian Football Federation for allegedly being part of the Juventus financial scandal and Spurs are waiting to discover the outcome and whether it will end up being a worldwide ban.
In the meantime, Paratici is carrying on as usual, identifying the potential candidates to succeed Antonio Conte who seems certain to leave when his contract expires this summer, with Spurs unlikely to take up a 12-month extension option. However, Paratici is unlikely to recommend former boss Mauricio Pochettino returning to the job at Tottenham even though the Argentinian remains on good terms with Levy.
Former Spain boss Luis Enrique is being championed in some quarters and could well be Paratici’s choice. He clearly has a glittering CV. But Tottenham chairman Levy does ideally want someone with Premier League experience which would obviously count against Enrique, who is believed to be keen on a move to English football.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel would fit the bill and fancies a job back in England. The Juventus financial scandal has cast a menacing shadow over Italian football and, while Paratici is fighting to clear his name, the next case on the horizon involves Napoli.
Napoli have been a fabulous story, they are 18 points clear at the top of Serie A and are dark horses in the Champions League, but it has almost gone under the radar in England that they are facing a financial investigation of their own.
Taylor joins Wales set-up
Wales Under-21 boss Matty Jones has just signed up ex-Swansea defender Neil Taylor to his coaching staff - but they might have to find a new way to communicate.
Jones rang Taylor to discuss their next squad only to discover Taylor was in Dubai and the phone call cost £86. They are planning to have scheduled TEAMS meetings in future. Wales have high hopes for Jones and Taylor to help guide them after Gareth Bale’s retirement.
Webb's refereeing plea
Referees chief Howard Webb is encouraging retired players to become officials - and is on a mission to recruit players at the start of their careers.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited has delivered a series of “Life After Professional Sport” events up and down the country and have already been to Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton.
Former referee Chris Foy and leading female official Bibi Steinhaus-Webb have been involved in talks which included “VAR Experience” to specifically target young players who do not make it but refereeing could be a viable alternative.
The Elite Referee Development Plan is in place and there have never been more opportunities for people to take up a whistle or flag, supported by a new Development Group which includes 30 per cent of match officials from a non-white heritage.
“Robot refs” inbound
Premier League chiefs are working on a plan to bring in “robot refs” as quickly as possible.
The semi-automatic offsides - using Artificial Intelligence technology - were a success at the World Cup and the hope is that it will remove any doubt and delays in decisions. The Premier League is part of FIFA’s technology working group and there is a feeling among clubs that it could be used even from the start of next season.
But they used a microchip in the ball in the World Cup and do not in the Champions League, so there are different approaches to the technology. Prem bosses will fund the technology but have yet to decide which path to follow which suggests that the introduction still needs some work.
Visit Saudi dropped
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson has “welcomed” FIFA’s decision to drop Visit Saudi as a sponsor for the women’s World Cup after a backlash by players.
Johnson said: “We welcome clarification from FIFA regarding Visit Saudi. Equality, diversity and inclusion are really deep commitments for Football Australia and we’ll continue to work hard with FIFA to ensure the Women’s World Cup is shaped in this light and it is a historic event for our nation, showcasing the world’s greatest female players and advancing the game globally.”
BBC chaos
BBC chiefs did a frantic ring-round of pundits and presenters on Friday night and Saturday morning to stop Football Focus being taken off air amid the Gary Lineker fiasco.
Poor BBC staffers felt horribly exposed for going on air and working while highly-paid freelancers went out in solidarity for Lineker.
