by Our Sports Desk

Tim Sherwood’s short tenure in charge of Tottenham has ended after the club announced yesterday they had relieved the head coach of his duties at White Hart Lane.

The 45-year-old, who was appointed as Andre Villas-Boas’s replacement in December, had initially signed an 18-month contract but was fending off speculation about his future almost straight away.

Having led Spurs to a sixth-placed finish and qualifying for next season’s Europa League, Sherwood leaves with an impressive win percentage of over 59 per cent but with heavy defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea the stand-out results of his spell.

In a statement, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy announced they had decided to take the option to end Sherwood’s contract a year early and will now begin to conduct a search for his successor.

“We appointed Tim mid-season as someone who knew both the players and the club. We agreed an 18-month contract with a break clause at the end of the season and we have now exercised that option,” the statement read.

“Moving forward, now the season is over, we shall embark on the process of finding a new head coach.

“We have a talented squad and exciting young players coming through. 

“We need to build on this season, develop our potential and inspire the kind of performances that we associate with our great club.”

Sherwood has long been battling against suggestions he would be relieved of his duties at the end of the season — with names such as Louis van Gaal, Frank de Boer and Mauricio Pochettino consistently linked to the post.

When asked in his press conference ahead of their final game of the season against Aston Villa he revealed he was not confident he would be managing anywhere next year.