Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas says that speculation suggesting Spurs were already in negotiations with Juande Ramos helped to force Martin Jol out of the club.
Jol, who was famously sacked at half-time during a UEFA Cup game against Getafe, was a fan favourite at White Hart Lane for his charm and endearing character.
But former Spurs midfielder Jenas has confirmed that his former boss was practically forced out of the club.
“If the manager is under fire, which Rodgers clearly is, that can filter down to the squad,” Jenas said in regard to the situation at Liverpool.
Jenas: “We had a similar situation with Martin Jol at Tottenham. He ended up essentially getting sacked at half-time of a Uefa Cup game against Getafe.
“I remembering speaking to him before the game because I was carrying an injury and his face was just blank, as if he was looking right through me. In the weeks leading up to that, you could tell something had changed within him.”
Jenas, who now works as a television pundit for BBC, said that speculation surrounding the imminent arrival of Juande Ramos made Jol’s job untenable.
Jenas remarked: “It was leaked in the papers that Spurs were speaking to Juande Ramos. We’d seen it, he had obviously seen it, so it was impossible to ignore.
“As players, we were trying to concentrate on doing our jobs – and we all liked Martin – but there’s no doubt it was distracting.”
Jenas’ former club face AS Monaco in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.
Talking THFC 