Berbatov dismisses Jol row claims

By Paul Fletcher

Spurs boss Jol spent £40m on players during the summer

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov has no problem with Martin Jol, despite some club officials appearing to lose confidence in the under-fire coach.

It had been claimed that Jol wanted to sell Berbatov, who reacted angrily after being substituted at Sunderland.

But Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev told BBC Sport: "I can tell you for sure that there is not a problem."

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is thought to be in line to replace Jol, although his agent has denied the link.

BBC Radio 5live football correspondent Jonathan Legard believes some senior club officials are not sure Jol can deliver regular top-four Premier League finishes.

606: DEBATE There should be a campaign to keep Jol at the club. This is pure insanity! JC

Spurs lost their first two matches this season but beat Derby 4-0 on Saturday.

On Monday, Ramos' agent Alvaro Torres denied there had been any talks with Tottenham, despite Spanish press reports claiming that the 52-year-old coach met with Spurs officials at the weekend.

Both clubs said Ramos' appearance at a Spanish hotel was a private matter and Torres said the meeting was with a friend and had "nothing to do with football".

And Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez has outlined the Spanish's club determination to keep Ramos.

"From the club's point of view, Ramos has one year left on his contract with Sevilla," said Rodriguez.

"There's no doubt that we want him to continue."

Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp have also been linked to the post at White Hart Lane.

Jol came under pressure after the two losses - to Sunderland and Everton - in the first four days of the season following a £40m summer outlay on players.

Dimitar is a player of Tottenham - there is nothing more to comment on that Dimitar Berbatov's agent Emile Dantchev

He signed Berbatov for £10.9m from German side Bayer Leverkusen the previous summer and the Bulgaria international scored 22 goals in his first season at White Hart Lane.

And agent Dantchev added: "Martin Jol is one of the people Dimitar has a very big respect for and he is not a player who can permit himself to make problems for the manager.

"The manager is one of the reasons that Dimitar came to Tottenham. They have a very good relationship."

Berbatov was said to be unhappy following his substitution after 77 minutes of his team's defeat at Sunderland on the opening day of the season.

But Dantchev said: "If he was not happy it was because they did not have a good result and his job is to help the club win games.

"They discussed the situation but it is football matter, it is normal."

Dantchev, though, refused to confirm that Berbatov would stay at Tottenham.

"He is a player of Tottenham and there is nothing more to comment on that," he stated.