Ryan Mason is open to taking permanent charge of Premier League underachievers Tottenham Hotspur but Daniel Levy should avoid making such a decision.
As former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan points out, hiring a 31-year-old who has never before taken sole charge of a senior team – at least, on a full-time basis – as the replacement for Antonio Conte would only act as proof for the argument that, when it comes to the footballing side of things, the much-maligned Tottenham chairman is often found wanting.
Mason indicated ahead of Thursday’s clash with top-four rivals Manchester United that he is ‘ready’ to take the Spurs job beyond the summer.
Can Ryan Mason get the Tottenham manager job full-time?
Now, it is not exactly unheard of for inexperienced assistant coaches to make the step up. Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola’s former number two, heads to Manchester City tonight top of the table. Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna – who worked alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford – have been revelations at Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town.
Gary O’Neil, meanwhile, continues to silence the doubters at Bournemouth.
“I felt that it was a risk from Bournemouth putting Gary O’Neil in place. He’s been given a chance. And he is proving me wrong in this instance,” Jordan tells talksSPORT (26 April, 12pm).
“But it’s a different dynamic managing Bournemouth to managing Tottenham.
“If you think Daniel Levy’s getting pelters now, imagine what would be said if he puts Ryan Mason in charge. He’d be between the rock and the proverbial in the eyes of everyone, in terms of a lack of ambition.”
Mauricio Pochettino taking over at Chelsea
Danny Murphy, who spent the 2006/07 season at Spurs, tends to agree.
“Well, I admire (Mason’s) confidence and his belief in himself. I like him. A good lad, he’s been at it a while, the coaching,” Murphy adds.
“But I think he is very inexperienced to be able to grasp a club like Tottenham and take it forward to compete with some of the powerhouses we’ve got in the Premier League.
“I would be very surprised if Daniel decided to go that way. Irrelevant of the next five games.”
Tottenham fired Cristian Stellini following the 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United. Mason, therefore, is now the interim to the interim in North London. ‘Assistant to the regional manager’, Michael Scott may quip.
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot and former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann remain the frontrunners to take over from Conte full-time.
Mauricio Pochettino, however, appears to be out of contention. The Tottenham hero is returning to London with Chelsea instead.
Tottenham are now sixth in the table. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are now fifth, beating
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