Spurs are a second rate club - Marsh

Rodney Marsh has labelled Tottenham a ‘second-rate club’ on Setanta Sports’ “Football Matters” show, insisting they will never challenge for a top-four finish when they sell their best players and consistently change their off-field staff.

Marsh cited not only the departures of Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe, but also the complete overhaul of the coaching set-up for Spurs’ current demise.

It has been well documented that Martin Jol has now led Hamburg to the top of the Bundesliga, while Frank Arnesen's replacement, Damien Comolli, has so far left a lot to be desired in his transfer dealings.

Marsh cites the loss of Arnesen as a major factor in the club’s current plight, and he insists they will always be second rate whilst the club’s bank balance takes preference over playing matters.

“You tell me any club worth its salt, I’m talking Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, do they sell their best players?” Marsh told Setanta Sports.

“Berbatov is a fantastic player, Keane is a fantastic player, Defoe’s scored goals wherever he’s been, and Spurs have let them go – because of money.

“I remember picking up a paper about two years ago, and it said ‘these three people will be the future of Tottenham Football Club’.

“It was Frank Arnesen, Jacques Santini and Martin Jol. That was the future of Spurs.

“Where are they now?”