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John Heitinga’s plans to become Tottenham’s interim boss were scuppered by the recent arrival of Igor Tudor.

That is according to Dutch journalist and Kick-Off podcast host Valentijn Driessen, who said the former Everton man didn’t fancy working under Tudor.

The Croatian was appointed as Tottenham‘s interim boss until the end of the season following the sacking of Thomas Frank a week ago.

Heitinga was only brought on board as part of Frank’s backroom staff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in mid-January, but his departure ends his 33-day stay at the club.

The 42-year-old still harbours desires to be a first-team manager again after leading Ajax for a brief period in 2023 and 2025, with more details over his exit coming to light.

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John Heitinga wanted to lead Tottenham before Igor Tudor appointment

Heitinga had previously served as an assistant manager at West Ham and with Arne Slot’s Liverpool, where he won the Premier League title last term.

He then made the switch to Tottenham in early 2026, but Heitinga didn’t taste victory in the five league games he was in the dugout for with the north Londoners.

Despite that, Driessen states that the former Fulham man hoped to lead Spurs for the rest of the campaign following Frank’s dismissal.

But when Tudor arrived, Heitinga, who has had two mixed spells managing Ajax, chose to move on.

Driessen said after revealing a meeting between the pair: “John could have stayed, but he had hoped to become interim manager for the rest of the season. Then he heard that Igor Tudor was coming.

“Then they sat down together, and he thought: ‘I don’t see any future here, because next season there will be a whole new staff and a new manager. He’ll bring his own people with him’.

“And he probably didn’t want to work under that Tudor, after which he said: ‘I’m closing the door behind me’.”

Should Tottenham fans be concerned about Tudor’s arrival?

When Tudor was first announced, there was a mixed reaction among Tottenham’s fanbase.

However, some of those fears have been allayed after his first club interview, with the 47-year-old coming across well on camera.

However, the former Juventus boss has a patchy record in management, with the Croatian having 12 jobs in 11 years.

To make matters worse, Tottenham cannot really afford to have a slow start under the former Marseille boss as they sit 16th in the table, just five points above the relegation zone.

Tudor does have a reputation of being something of a firefighter, which is just what Spurs need as they bid to beat the drop.

But there could be more pain and misery when they host rivals Arsenal in the next North London Derby on Sunday.

Tottenham’s relegation could see the Lilywhites miss out on significant revenue gains, given the £5.76billion gulf between the Premier League and EFL’s broadcast deals.

That’s according to The Athletic, who claim the Premier League‘s UK rights deal is worth £6.7bn from 2025-29, with £2bn of that coming from NBC until 2028, which all clubs in the top flight benefit from.

However, the difference is that the EFL’s contract with Sky Sports is worth £935million over five years, which shows the cut of the £5.76bn difference that Joe Lewis and Co. would miss out on through relegation.

Spurs are already in ongoing discussions with sponsors, namely their front-of-shirt sponsor, AIA, with whom they have a reported £40m contract, as even that would be significantly reduced from a drop to the Championship.

TV rights, global visibility, and season ticket prices would all be negatively damaged in the event of relegation, and given the costs of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, promotion would be needed straight away.

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What is Tottenham’s focus to avoid relegation?

Having recently appointed Igor Tudor, ENIC will be hoping for results to change, and fast.

They already have to pay off the remaining £18m to Thomas Frank through his contract, and further financial damage could be “catastrophic”.

The Athletic also relayed words from a Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust spokesperson, who has had access to conversations with chiefs in N17.

The Trust’s spokesperson said: “While we know the spectre of relegation is real and we are confident that the club are acutely aware of its catastrophic implications, we believe that their 100 per cent focus is, rightly, on improving performances and results. In short, avoiding relegation at all costs.”

Despite the Lilywhites being in the top 10 wealthiest clubs in the world in terms of revenue, the downward trajectory of the club is causing losses that are not sustainable over the long-term future.

This is what Tottenham have over Arsenal heading into NLD

Tottenham fans will be hoping that Tudor can have an immediate impact, and what better way to introduce yourself to the Lilywhite faithful than a win over Arsenal?

Spurs host the Gunners on Sunday, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is bound to get behind their team in what is a pivotal moment for their season.

Arsenal’s draw to Wolves on Wednesday will have been a blow to Mikel Arteta’s side, and they are travelling to take on a side who, ironically, may be feeling a better buzz heading into the match.

The Lilywhites have a new belief and can strike Arsenal at the perfect time here. Relegation fears have been brushed off by many, and Tudor’s first game in charge could be a telling moment for Tottenham’s season.

Ange Postecoglou has defended Tottenham captain Cristian Romero after his recent red card.

Romero was sent off during Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, which turned out to be Thomas Frank’s penultimate game in charge.

Frank was eventually sacked after Newcastle United beat the Lilywhites 2-1 just three days later, with Igor Tudor coming in as his replacement.

However, Tudor will be without the Argentinian centre-back for another three matches, as he serves the rest of his four-game suspension.

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Ange Postecoglou ‘loves’ Cristian Romero

Postecoglou won Tottenham their first piece of major silverware in 17 years last season, guiding them to a Europa League final victory over Man United.

Just two weeks later through, the Australian was dismissed, as a result of Spurs’ 17th place finish in the Premier League.

Looking back on his time at the North London club on Stick to Football, Postecoglou spoke very highly of Romero.

The former Tottenham boss revealed that the Argentine used to scare players in training, and admitted that the Lilywhites would never have won the Europa League without him.

Postecoglou said: “I love him (Romero). He plays on the edge, but he’d scare people in training. I love the way he talks.

“We would have never won that (Europa League) final without Romero. He’s not scared of anything; he’s a winner. I love winners.”

When will Cristian Romero return for Tottenham?

Romero was suspended for one game back in December after he was dismissed against Liverpool, sent off for two bookable offences.

However, after being shown a red card for the second time this season, against Man United, the Argentine was slapped with a four-game ban.

He missed Tottenham’s defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month and will be absent for the next three matches as well.

Spurs take on Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday, before facing Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Romero will then return to action on 15 March, as Tudor’s side travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

As well as the 27-year-old’s suspension, Kevin Danso is out injured, which means that Radu Dragusin is expected to start against Arsenal, and could be set for a run in the team.

Tottenham are freezing their season ticket prices for the 2026-27 season.

As revealed in a report from The Athletic, Tottenham will not be increasing the prices of their season tickets for next season.

It’s stated that this decision was reached thanks to numerous and lengthy consultations with Spurs fan groups, which began between the club, the Fan Advisory Board and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust in late 2025.

ENIC, whilst they didn’t raise season ticket or matchday ticket prices for this season, did do so in 2024-25, and also started removing the concession for new senior season ticket holders this term.

That decision didn’t go down well with many Spurs fans, but following conversations with the club, the fans have ensured it won’t be any more expensive than it already is to go to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next term.

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Tottenham’s season ticket prices for 2025-26 compared to Premier League rivals

As the Premier League and its clubs continue to grow richer with each passing year, TV and broadcast deal struck and sponsorship signed, so does the requirement for the average football fan to go and watch their team.

Indeed, the pricing out of football fans in the modern game is one of the hottest and most passionately debated topics in the game right now, and for very good reason.

Without fans, football is art on a grey, colourless canvas, that whilst is still can be looked upon and appreciated, the real magic that brings it to life is missing, which is what we all saw during Covid.

However, for many fans of Premier League clubs, it’s never been harder financially to follow their team, with season ticket prices now commonly priced at eye-watering figures.

As detailed in a report from The Mirror before the start of this season, Tottenham’s adult season ticket price for this year stood at £856 pounds.

Only Chelsea (£880) and Arsenal (£1,117) were more expensive than Spurs’ price, whilst at the opposite end of the scale, the cheapest adult season ticket card was found at West Ham, standing at £345.

Other clubs boasting some of the cheapest season tickets in the Premier League are: Burnley (£352), Man City (£425) and Sunderland (£490) respectively.

Tottenham chiefs should feel obliged to lower prices if anything

Whilst a price freeze on season tickets for next season is certainly welcome, Tottenham fans should keep pushing for even more.

The product of Spurs on the pitch in recent times just doesn’t justify having the third-highest Premier League adult season ticket, with back-to-back relegation battles an unheard of reality in N17.

However, Lilywhites fans continue to pack out the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite the on-the-field product and off-the-field prices.

Their loyalty, through thick and thin, should be seen as a strength to lean on, preserve and protect, not as a tool for financial gain.

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has poked fun at his own brief Nottingham Forest tenure.

Postecoglou became the first Tottenham manager to lead the club to trophy success since 2008 when Spurs won the Europa League last May.

Despite ending the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit’s long wait for silverware, the Australian was sacked as he paid the price for their poor Premier League form.

Postecoglou criticised Tottenham in an explosive interview last Thursday and now a short clip has surfaced on The Overlap of him ribbing himself about his ill-fated Forest stint.

The ex-Celtic boss lasted just eight games in all competitions at City Ground earlier this season but it seems he is doing his best to see the funny side of it.

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Ange Postecoglou teases assessment on Nottingham Forest stint

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham last June, with Brentford boss Thomas Frank replacing him shortly after.

The Australian guided Spurs to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League as their sole focus turned to winning the Europa League.

The former Australian national team boss spent two seasons in charge at Tottenham but lasted just under six weeks at Forest as owner Evangelos Marinakis pulled the plug on his stint last October.

Postecoglou signed a two year deal with the Tricky Trees so he would have received a sizeable pay-out for his short work at the club. And so far, it seems he isn’t too bitter about the whole affair.

He said in the short preview clip on Stick to Football, “There’s not much to talk about the Forest thing because this programme will last longer than my tenure.”

The full episode will be out on Thursday morning, with a deep dive on Postecoglou’s career likely to follow.

Postecoglou’s Tottenham criticisms ring true

Hot on the heels of Frank being sacked by Tottenham, the Stick to Football crew spoke to Postecoglou about that and the club itself.

In a candid interview, the 60-year-old was quick to praise Tottenham’s “unbelievable” facilities but said the club’s financial limitations prevented them from signing the likes of Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo in 2024.

Postecoglou also opined that Tottenham were “not a big club” when it came to player wages.

“When you look at their expenditure and particularly their wages structure, they’re not a big club,” he said. “I saw that because, when we were trying to sign players, we weren’t in the market for those players.”

Postecoglou also said that wherever you go at Tottenham, the club’s adage, “To do is to dare,” is all over the place. However, their actions are the “antithesis” of this.

He added, “I think they didn’t realise that, to actually win, you’ve got to take some risks. I felt like Tottenham as a club were saying, ‘we’re one of the big boys’, and the reality is I don’t think they are.”

Now, Tottenham are in a similar mess in the league this season. They are 16th and just five points above the relegation zone. Maybe Postecoglou shouldn’t have been sacked after all.

Igor Tudor’s system could fit the Tottenham squad perfectly according to former winger Andros Townsend.

Spurs currently sit 16th in the Premier League ahead of Tudor’s first game in charge on Sunday, a North London derby against Arsenal.

The Lilywhites lost the reverse fixture 4-1 earlier in the season, so they will be desperate for revenge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tudor could not have had a more difficult start to his tenure at Tottenham, but it also provides him with an opportunity to instantly get the fanbase onside.

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Andros Townsend thinks Igor Tudor’s system could work

Tudor has been out of work since he was sacked by Juventus back in October, after a run of seven games without a win.

However, the Croatian had initially made a big impact at the Old Lady, guiding the club to Champions League qualification in 2024-25 after the dismissal of Thiago Motta in March.

Spurs fans will be hoping that Tudor has the same positive effect on the current squad, who are currently very low on confidence.

Former Tottenham winger Townsend believes that the Lilywhites have the players to slot straight into Tudor’s system.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Townsend said: “They (Juventus) did like to go into a five at the back under Tudor, which is something Spurs fans don’t want to hear. But when they did win the ball, they were so aggressive and vertical.

“I look at the players Spurs have. Can Micky Van de Ven play that left centre-half position, with his pace? Can he get up and down?

“Maybe on the right (centre-back), it might be Djed Spence. Two number 10s, Xavi Simons did it very well at Leipzig, so he can play in that left half-space. (Randal) Kolo Muani did it at Juventus under this manager in the right half-space.

“You’ve got the big man (Dominic) Solanke up front, so it’s like for like. It could work in the way that Spurs play.”

Igor Tudor has clean slate at Tottenham

Given how badly Tottenham performed under Frank before he was sacked, it almost can’t get any worse for the North London side.

Admittedly, they are still in relegation danger, but with the players Tudor has at his disposal, that should not be an issue.

Instead, the former Juventus boss will be looking up the table, and hoping that his fresh ideas can spark a revival of the current squad.

The players had clearly become tired of Frank’s ideas, along with the poor results, and a new voice may be exactly what they need to turn things around.

Randal Kolo Muani is still yet to score a Premier League goal for Tottenham.

The 27-year-old, who is on loan at Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain, has had a difficult season so far, failing to hit the heights that were expected of him.

With Dominic Solanke out injured for much of the first half of the campaign, Thomas Frank needed Kolo Muani to step up, but he was unable to fill the void left by the England international.

However, with Frank now out of the picture, replaced by Igor Tudor in North London, the Frenchman could be in line for a revival in the final few months of the season.

Randal Kolo Muani has underwhelmed for Tottenham

Kolo Muani has made 18 appearances in the Premier League for Tottenham this term, starting 12 times and coming off the bench on six occasions.

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However, he has still not found the back of the net in the top-flight, struggling to make a real impact domestically.

Admittedly, there has been a real lack of creativity from Spurs this season, but Kolo Muani has still had opportunities, scoring none of his 11 Premier League shots and missing five big chances in total.

The French international has fared slightly better in the Champions League though, scoring three times and grabbing two assists from seven appearances.

His record in Europe proves that the ability is there for Kolo Muani, but it is just a case of transferring that to the Premier League.

Randal Kolo Muani could thrive under Igor Tudor

Kolo Muani’s Tottenham career looked all but doomed at the time of Frank’s dismissal, but the appointment of Tudor has given the forward a lifeline.

The World Cup finalist spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, meaning he spent a couple of months under the Croatian at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Tudor chose to utilise Kolo Muani through the middle, and as a second striker on occasions, which allowed the Frenchman to flourish.

He scored five goals and picked up one assist from just 11 appearances after Tudor came in at Juventus.

Tottenham fans will hope the Croatian can have a similar effect on Kolo Muani this season.

Igor Tudor wants to instil some confidence back into his Tottenham team ahead of the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.

Tudor replaced Thomas Frank at Spurs last week, coming in on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The Croatian has a big job on his hands at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Lilywhites currently languishing down in 16th in the Premier League table, just five points clear of the bottom three.

Tudor has been thrown straight into the fire, as his first game in charge is against arch-rivals Arsenal, but the former Juventus boss is determined to get his squad in the right mindset ahead of the derby.

Igor Tudor doesn’t have time for excuses at Tottenham

Tottenham fans were never impressed by the way Frank handled the media and press conferences, often feeling the Dane was lacking the motivational skills required.

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That translated out onto the pitch, as the former Spurs boss really struggled to get energy and passion from his squad.

Tudor will be eager not to make the same mistake as his predecessor, and he has already revealed his first priority as Tottenham manager.

Speaking to Stan Sport, the Croatian insisted that his most pressing job at the moment is to instil some confidence and courage into his squad.

Tudor said: “My first priority is to give everything the team needs in these moments.

“First of all, I believe the team needs to get some confidence, to get some courage.

“Of course I’m coming here knowing the situation is not easy. There’s no time to find excuses; that’s what I’ve said from the first day here.”

Will Igor Tudor be given full-time Tottenham job?

Tudor has initially been appointed on an interim basis, and the feeling is that Tottenham will go for a more permanent choice in the summer.

Mauricio Pochettino may be an option after his 2026 World Cup campaign with the USA, and the Argentine is a fan favourite.

However, Tudor has been given the opportunity to stake his claim for the full-time job.

If he helps turn the situation around at Tottenham, and brings back the feel-good factor around the club, then there is no reason why he won’t be considered for a permanent role.

Tottenham Under-18s beat Arsenal 4-1 in the latest youth North London derby on Tuesday, and Oliver Boast put in a standout performance.

Reiss Elliott-Parris opened the scoring for the young Spurs side, before a George Feeney brace, one either side of the break, gave the Lilywhites a three-goal lead.

Emerson Nwaneri, brother of Ethan, pulled one back for Arsenal with just six minutes remaining, but Miracle Adewole added a fourth moments later to secure a comfortable victory.

The win means that the North London side is now just two points behind table-topping Chelsea in the Under-18 Premier League’s southern division.

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Oliver Boast can be a future star for Tottenham

Despite not getting on the scoresheet himself at London Colney, Boast was a thorn in Arsenal’s side throughout the game.

Starting on the right wing, the 17-year-old created several early opportunities and grabbed a wonderful assist for Elliott-Parris’ opener.

Boast shrugged off his marker in the centre circle before driving at the heart of the Arsenal defence, eventually slipping Elliott-Parris through on goal, who made no mistake with the finish.

Boast signed for Tottenham from Leeds United last summer and has shown real potential during his first six months in North London.

The England youth international already has eight goals in the Under-18 Premier League for the Lilywhites this season, and is a player that Spurs fans should really be getting excited about.

Tottenham senior side aiming to replicate Under-18s

After the Under-18s cruised to victory in their North London derby, the senior side will be desperate to replicate that at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Igor Tudor will take charge of his first game as Spurs face Arsenal for the second time this season, looking to get revenge for the 4-1 defeat earlier in the campaign.

It will be a tough test for Tudor and his Tottenham team, going up against the Premier League leaders, but the Croatian must get off to a positive start in North London.

The fanbase became disconnected during the final weeks of Thomas Frank’s reign, but a surprise victory over Arsenal would immediately get them back onside.

Tottenham are a leading candidate to secure the signature of Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is currently in a “privileged” contract situation.

That’s according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, as the Argentine’s contract with the Cherries expires at the end of the season, with Spurs said to be ready to pounce on a transfer.

Johan Lange has identified multiple definitive options, with Senesi suggested to be the replacement for Cristian Romero, who has expressed his desire to leave N17.

The Lilywhites know they will have tough competition to sign the left-footed defensive unit, with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and Barcelona all sniffing around.

This is what Marcos Senesi can bring to Tottenham; the stats don’t lie

Tottenham want to be smart with their summer purchases, and while they want to buy for the long-term, they also want to bring players who already have Premier League experience.

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Senesi fits that criteria, and it’s no surprise as to why Lange and Co. have highlighted him as a cheap and sensible option to bring to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham are keen to avoid previous mistakes by missing out on transfer targets to competitors, and are determined to close the deal before the summer market even opens.

As highlighted by the Sofascore graphic below, Senesi ranks top of the Premier League charts for most assists made by a defender, while averaging a 7.17 rating.

He is the best centre-back in the league when it comes to making interceptions, as he will no doubt be a shrewd signing to make ahead of the next campaign.

What does Senesi offer over Cristian Romero?

There may be some more twists and turns before the end of the season with Igor Tudor now in charge, but as things stand, Romero is keen to leave.

The centre-half appears to believe that he is capable of going on to better things, and while his concerns over decisions at the club are valid, his actions off the field are not.

He is still very loved by Tottenham supporters, who want to see him lead the club to more success in the future, but there would not be as much uproar if he were to leave in the summer, with Senesi’s possible arrival.

While Romero seems to be a better tackler than Senesi, the former appears to be able to read the game better.

He also has admired ball-playing ability that is needed in N17, and that’s not to say Romero doesn’t have that, more so that Senesi is the type of profile that Spurs need.