AVB sacked as Tottenham manager

LONDON: André Villas-Boas has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in the wake of Sunday's humiliating home defeat to Liverpool, the manager departing White Hart Lane after barely 18 months in charge with faith that he was capable of securing Champions League qualification having been eroded within the club's hierarchy.

The Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, and the technical director Franco Baldini had spoken briefly with Villas-Boas in the aftermath of the harrowing 5-0 defeat, with Villas-Boas emerging to insist he would not resign. There were further talks on Monday, before the club issued a statement confirming his departure was "by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties".

The club's technical co-ordinator, Tim Sherwood, will oversee Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham United and could yet be placed in caretaker charge until the end of the season.