CONTE LOST THE DRESSING ROOM

TOTTENHAM RELATIONSHIP SPLIT WITH ITALIAN AS THEY FEARED HIS WITH SQUAD WAS BROKEN AFTER RANT

- Dan Kilpatrick

TOTTENHAM called time on Antonio Conte’s tenure after believing the head coach had lost the dressing room and would have little chance of guiding the club to another top-four finish following his furious evisceration of the players at Southampton.

The Italian last night left Spurs “by mutual agreement” was replaced by his assistant Cristian Stellini, who will take charge of the final 10 games of the season with support from Conte’s entire backroom staff — with the exception of his brother Gianluca, who has been relieved of his role as an analyst.

Julian Nagelsmann, sacked by Bayern Munich last week, is a front-runner for the job in the summer, while Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique, who are also free agents, may be considered, along with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Oliver Glasner of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Conte’s departure came just over a week after he torched his relationship with the squad following the 3-3 draw at St. Mary’s, accusing them of being “selfish” and lacking “spirit” and professionalism.