Tottenham Hotspur have not asked Ryan Mason to take charge of the club’s pre-season plans and intend to see him work with the Under 23s, according to football.london.
Daniel Levy is still to appoint a new head coach in north London, more than two months after firing Jose Mourinho. Tottenham’s search has continued for longer than he had hoped, as plans to appoint Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca then Gennaro Gattuso fell through.
Spurs put Mason in interim charge last season after Mourinho’s sacking days before the Carabao Cup final. The 30-year-old stepped up from his position as Head of Player Development to fill the role and would win four of his seven games at the helm, losing the other three.
And given their on-going search, Tottenham put Mason on standby as an option to take pre-season, per the Express. But football.london understand the former midfielder will not take charge when players not on international duty return on July 5.
Instead, Tottenham want Mason to return to his role with the U23s and academy ranks at Hotspur Way. The club may later look into asking him to take first-team sessions if Levy’s search continues for much longer, though.
Mason impressed figures in north London by stepping in to a daunting challenge after Mourinho’s exit in April. He handled the pressure of the occasion well and was able to fend difficult questions on Mourinho, the Super League, fan protests and players’ futures.
Mason would be a stopgap for Tottenham
Mason was a stopgap for Tottenham after Levy fired Mourinho and would be again if asked to take pre-season training. He will likely not be the permanent solution, but could do a job in the time while their search continues.
Leading pre-season would not be too demanding over the first few weeks of the players’ return. Instead, he would be getting them up to fitness before the next manager begins the heavy lifting of preparing tactics.
Mason would be able to carry out that task without any difficulty and without hindering the players’ preparation. Former Spurs midfielder Micky Hazard told talkSPORT how he has a ‘very, very good football brain for someone so young’.
But Levy knows he has to make an appointment soon. The turmoil of a continued search will hold Tottenham back next season, as the matter will play on the players’ minds.
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