Spurs refute Freund comments

The former Borussia Dortmund bulldog claims the Spurs boss went back on his word to give him a second chance after previously telling him he would not be offered a new deal with the North London club.

Furious Freund said: "I can't understand it. The manager apologised face-to-face and gave me a new way back.

"Now he has changed his mind again.

"I felt flattered that Hoddle apologised because I'm sure it's not something he has done many times in his career.

"He said 'I made a mistake about you and realise I need a player like you - you are a part of my plans next season.'

"But three weeks later he changes his mind and the chairman (Daniel Levy) has told me that I can go."

An official spokesman from White Hart Lane though defended the club's position on the 33-year-old's allegations.

"Steffen asked us to reconsider our decision and we are happy to do that but, after consultations, there was no change to our original decision or agreement," he told the club's official website.

The dogged former German international then joined a long list of former players criticising Hoddle's management style when he concluded: "It's clear Hoddle has a problem with man-management.

"The players who have gone - Tim Sherwood, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and myself- are players who say something in the dressing room and he can't handle that.

"My target now is to stay in The Premiership."