'Big mistake': Australian press react to Ange Postecoglou's 'cold-hearted' Tottenham sacking | OneFootball

Spurs’ decision to dismiss Postecoglou has caused uproar down under

The win over Manchester United in the Basque country secured Champions League football for the north Londoners next season, and they will join champions Liverpool, arch-rivals Arsenal, Manchester City, Conference League winners Chelsea, and Carabao Cup winners Newcastle United in Europe’s elite competition.

However, they finished in 17th in the Premier League table, just one place above the relegation zone.

It was their worst domestic season since their relegation from the First Division in 1976-77, but many outlets down under felt that the former Celtic boss surely had to be given a third term to continue his project.

Dismissed: Ange Postecoglou

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In the Sydney Morning Herald, the paper said that the decision taken by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was “cold-hearted”, saying that it would be one that he “will almost certainly live to regret, regardless of whether his replacement is a success or not.

“There will now always be an unanswerable 'what if' about the possibilities that lay within a third season at Spurs for Postecoglou," it continued.

"There appears to be no hope that whoever comes in next will get what he needs to satisfy Levy, who seems to be prioritising higher finishes on the Premier League table than the idea of actually winning things."

Former West Ham player and Australian international Robbie Slater, writing in his column for the Herald, said that dismissing Postecoglou - Spurs’ fifth head coach in six years - was “a big mistake”.

"Levy has left himself in a really, really difficult position now. He's already not liked by the Spurs fans and now he's taking a massive gamble here," he said.

"Ange had promised 'season three is always better than season two'. Good luck with that, Spurs."

Farewell: Pedro Porro and Ange Postecoglou

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National broadcaster ABC said that Postecoglou was always going to struggle to preserve his precarious position due to Spurs’ league finish.

"In the cold light of day, Postecoglou was always going to be hard pressed to keep his job,” ABC said.

The broadcaster did question why a serial winner had been sacked after leading a side not used to winning silverware to their first trophy in 17 years.

"He has shown himself to be a winner in every league he has had an extended run in, be it Scotland, Australia, Japan and now England," it said.

"Sacking Postecoglou fits with Tottenham's recent reputation of throwing away promising situations and making life uncomfortable -- or even torturous -- for its supporters."

Spurs are now on the hunt for Postecoglou’s successor, with Brentford’s Thomas Frank sounded out as the frontrunner to take over in north London.

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner have also been linked with the vacancy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.