Fergie, Friend Of Patience And Jol

Martin Jol has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur after a dismal run of results but Fergie believes the Dutchman deserved more time.

The 2-1 defeat to Getafe at home sealed Jol's fate but it was their league form what disgusted the board. Despite the results of Spurs, Fergie laments the era when managers were given more time.

"I have made the point many times that there is no evidence sacking a manager brings success," he said.

"There seems to be a far less patient approach in football now but Arsene has been there 10 years and I have been here 21. I think you can see there have been rewards for both managers and clubs."

"Martin has great qualities. He is a decent man who has shown his integrity but he is probably relieved it is all over.

"I don`t know the full ins and outs but we have all witnessed a drip, drip, drip effect right from the start of the season when there was talk of the people from Tottenham meeting the Seville coach.

"Whether it happened or not, it appeared in the press, so the press were continually on about the guy`s future. It cannot be healthy that every day Martin turns the paper over, his future is being discussed."

As it is not the Spurs site, I do not wish to open a discussion about whether the board undermined Jol. Fergie clearly thinks so though. However, with all the talk of the top 4 before the season and the way the actual results came, Jol was always going to be doomed.

The lack of patience he laments is not surprising: it's very difficult to break into the elite these days. Twenty years ago it wasn't unthinkable that the title holders would finish in the lower regions of the table next season: now it just won't happen. Those aspire to the elite cannot allow to waste their time and that is why many people are talking about sacking Rafa Benitez. The margin for error is smaller than ever, therefore patience is running out sooner than ever.

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