Levy didn’t want me to go, says Sherwood
TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy tried to persuade Tim Sherwood to stay on at the club after sacking him from the head coach role, the Aston Villa manager has revealed. Sherwood will return to White Hart Lane for the first time with his new team tomorrow and said he would ‘absolutely’ shake Levy’s hand. The pair still keep in touch, according to Sherwood, who joked: ‘Just to see who he’s going to sell me!’ Levy sacked Sherwood last May to bring in Mauricio Pochettino, ending the 46-year-old’s five-month stay in charge, and six-year relationship with the club at development level. ‘Daniel Levy has known me for a lot of years,’ said Sherwood. ‘It wasn’t as if I fell off my chair and said, “You’re joking”. I knew it was coming. ‘I was disappointed I was leaving, but Daniel wanted me to stay in some kind of capacity. But I’m a manager now. ‘He didn’t say what job. I was looking around eyeing up the broom cupboards and all that! ‘I respect the decision made by the board. I thank them because not being there now is the reason I am at this fantastic football club. ‘I’ve been in communication with Daniel since I’ve left, I haven’t got a problem. He’s the chairman and he makes those decisions based on what he thinks is in their best interest.’ Sherwood added: ‘I was there the day he walked into the club (in 2001). He got rid of George Graham and brought in Glenn Hoddle in the week building up to the FA Cup semi-final. ‘He is not frightened of making decisions at crucial times. You have to say Tottenham is a far better club now than when he found it. I have a lot of good friends at the club, I will shake their hands. Once I get in that dressing room I’ll be telling our boys to do whatever they can to win.’ Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is set to miss the clash against after failing to recover from a gashed knee sustained against Leicester on March 21. Kyle Walker is also a major doubt with a bruised foot sustained in the 0-0 draw at Burnley last Sunday.