Hoddle shown door by Tottenham

'Worst start'
The manager left his post after speaking with chairman Daniel Levy, who said: "Following two seasons of disappointing results, there was a significant investment in the team during the summer, in order to give us the best possible chance of success this season. Unfortunately, the start to this season has been our worst since the Premiership was formed [in 1992]. Coupled with the extremely poor second half to last season, the current lack of progress and any visible sign of improvement are unacceptable."

Former idol
The final straw for Hoddle, an idol at White Hart Lane in his playing days, was the 3-1 home defeat handed out by his former charges, Southampton FC, on Saturday. "It is critical that I, and the board, have absolute confidence in the manager to deliver success to the club," Levy continued. "Regrettably, we do not."

Pleat in
Tottenham, who have won just once this season, slipped into the bottom three after Middlesbrough FC's victory against Everton FC on Sunday. Former manager David Pleat has been put in temporary charge of team affairs while the club seek a successor to the former England, Chelsea FC and Southampton manager.