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Villas-Boas: sacked this morning. Stephen Pond/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Andre Villas-Boas sacked by Spurs

Decision taken “by mutual consent” after yesterday’s 5-0 defeat against Liverpool.

Updated 11.44

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur.

The decision was taken “by mutual consent” after yesterday’s 5-0 loss against Liverpool, Spurs’ heaviest home defeat in 16 seasons.

Former England boss Fabio Capello has been installed by bookmakers as the early favourite for the job with Guus Hiddink and Michael Laudrup also linked with the North London club this morning.

Spurs said: “The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services.

The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.

We wish Andre well for the future. We shall make a further announcement in due course.

Villas-Boas and his players were booed off the pitch yesterday as the home fans at White Hart Lane made their voices heard.

The result left Spurs in seventh place, five points outside the Champions League places and still two points better than defending champions Manchester United.

But in the wake of last month’s 6-0 humiliation against Manchester City, a second heavy defeat to a top four rival left Villas-Boas on the brink.

A £105 million summer transfer binge only added to the pressure on the Portuguese, who arrived at the club in July 2012.

Spurs finished fifth in his first season, narrowly missing out on a Champions League place to rivals Arsenal.

But when they cashed in on Gareth Bale, selling the Welsh star to Real Madrid for a world record fee in excess of £85 million, Villas-Boas faced the unenviable task of rebuilding without one of the world’s biggest names.

The bulk of that money was spent on four players — Spanish forward Roberto Soldado (£26 million), Erik Lamela (£26 million), Paulinho (£17 million) and Christian Eriksen (£11.5 million).

Three more summer signings — Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Nacer Chadli — took the spree above the £100 million mark.

After losing five times already this season, including the hammerings against City and Liverpool, the Spurs board have moved for a swift change.

Capello, Hiddink and Laudrup have all been linked as have club legends Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood who could team up as a double act.

– First published 11.09

Barca draw Man City in Champions League while Arsenal face champions Bayern again

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    Mute Teddington
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:57 PM

    Just let them bring their guns and lock the doors and let nature take its course!

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    Mute Joshua Walsh
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:57 PM

    Tis a gas old place Thee Unites States of America.

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    Mute Patrick Ralf
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:12 PM

    Yeee hawwww pew pew pew

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:19 PM

    They really are the laughing stock of the world. Great entertainment that lot.

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    Mute Darren Mullen
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:00 PM

    If one nutter gets a gun through and discharges the NRA will have a field day.

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    Mute Lorcan MacAteer
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:19 PM

    NRA members are not the problem.

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:42 PM

    No Lorcan but their gun industry supported leaders are. Far as I know, most NRA members are in favour of sensible gun ownership controls but as long as big money brides the leaders of this association, then it’s just business as usual in America. Time for most ordinary NRA members to take back control of their organisation, I think?

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:51 PM

    Correct Lorcan. The majority are against the right to bear arms yet agree with what Padraig Nally did to defend himself.

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    Mute Stephen Devlin
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:00 PM

    Whats the worst that could happen

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    Mute Ian T Boyle
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:44 PM

    That neither Trump or Cruz gets hit

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Very good Ian..

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    Mute Grot Master
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:07 PM

    Couldn’t see either of them agreeing to it.

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Mar 29th 2016, 8:59 PM

    There is crazy and then there is crazy republicans. We even have them over here!

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:51 PM

    How many guns in a Sinn Féin Ard Fheis?!

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Mar 30th 2016, 9:42 AM

    Exactly how small are their C@<ks that they need the extensions everywhere they go???

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    Mute prouesse f
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:10 PM

    Disarm the world! No more tools of death! ! Ain’t ppl sick of blood shed?

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    Mute Conor Heffernan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Save lives – bring guns. In other news DEY TUK ERR JEOBS

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    Mute Anthony Ryan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 10:17 AM

    Durpa durb!!

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    Mute gordon larney
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    Mar 29th 2016, 9:42 PM

    Sure guys go ahead,,, what could possibly go wrong…………….

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:03 PM

    How many of those 50k signatures were democrats. :-P

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    Mute Mark
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    Mar 30th 2016, 8:24 AM

    How many were just an X?

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    Mute Gerald Horgan
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    Mar 29th 2016, 10:12 PM

    Jesus America is a great country but …..

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:46 PM

    Nomination by duel!!!!

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    Mute Noah Wilson
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:23 PM

    Can’t see any problem. They’re all responsible citizens.

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    Mute Noel Ryan
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    Mar 30th 2016, 9:37 AM

    Let’s all bring hurleys to the next GAA Annual Convention

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:02 PM

    The face off should be held at gun Pont

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    Mute kieran Curran
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    Mar 29th 2016, 11:32 PM

    At gun bridge?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Apr 1st 2016, 2:44 AM

    Making America great again….

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