Jol's prospects at Spurs still look gloomy

LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) Martin Jol looks likely to be in charge of Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester United in a Premier League clash on Sunday but his longer-term prospects at the London club are still uncertain.

Tottenham issued a statement today denying that anybody had been offered Jol's job, following growing speculation that he would be sacked and Sevilla coach Juande Ramos brought in to replace him.

Ramos, who has won back to back UEFA Cups with the Spanish club, told reporters today that Spurs had made him a ''dizzying'' offer although he said he had not considered it and had not met anybody from Tottenham directly.

The English sports pages were dominated by Jol's seemingly tenuous grip on his job after the club's poor start to the season in which they have lost two of their first three games.

After a meeting with club chairman Daniel Levy yesterday, Jol's future at Spurs now appears to hinge on him getting the side into the top four this season after consecutive fifth-placed finishes.

In a statement that lacked any direct backing for Jol, club chairman Daniel Levy said: ''We are an ambitious club and we have discussed our expectations with Martin.

''For that we need our management standards to be of the highest quality so that we can compete with the best. Martin has confirmed to me that he feels he is equipped with a squad and a determination to take the challenge.

''We want Champions League football. We, the board, owe it to the club and the supporters to constantly assess our position and performance and to ensure that we have the ability to operate and compete at that level.'' Jol, who has been backed with a large transfer kitty, acknowledged that the pressure was on him to deliver.

''I fully understand the ambitions of the club -- they are the same as the supporters,'' he said. ''Yes, it is pressure to deliver but that is what we managers should expect...

''(Levy) has put a lot of hard work into this club and with the squad of players we have assembled, it is realistic that we should look to challenge for a top four position.'' Ramos said he had every intention of seeing out the remaining year of his contract with Sevilla, who will be playing in the Champions League this season and challenging for the Spanish title.

''There was not the slightest possibility that I would accept (the Spurs offer) because I'm under contract. It did not interest me or the club,'' he said at a news conference today.

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido also said on Tuesday that Ramos was not going anywhere despite photos in a local sports newspaper apparently showing Ramos with Tottenham officials in a city hotel.

Despite the denials, British media have suggested that Jol's position has been severely undermined and with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool coming up in the next six games, things are unlikely to get any easier for the Dutchman.

REUTERS BJR HS1859