Tottenham Hotspur find themselves at yet another crossroads.

A month after celebrating their 125th anniversary and 14 games into the season, Spurs have not only sacked manager Martin Jol, but the cack-handed manner of his dismissal has left their fans hanging their heads in disbelief.

Of course it is the board’s prerogative to sack and fire as they like. But Martin Jol was Spurs’ most successful manager since Keith Burkinshaw left after winning the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Jol didn’t win any trophies but he restored the club’s faith in itself and gave them their self-respect back. In my book, that’s success too.

Burkinshaw is famous for saying, as he walked out of White Hart Lane for the last time, “There used to be a football club over there.” He didn’t know how right he was. What there is now, like almost everywhere else in the Premier League, is a brand name, a merchandising hub, a machine for creating revenue streams. A multi-million pound industry.

That’s all fine. That’s football today and we, as fans and media, buy into it if we want to.

Spurs, though, do far better than most. For the last two seasons they have been the fifth best club in England and that was down to Jol, who led the team out of years of mid-table mediocrity.

They almost got into the Champions League in 2006. They were not far away last season. On the back of those relative successes — big successes in recent Tottenham history — they have made more money than ever before by playing in Europe again.

But UEFA Cup football is not Champions League football and that’s what chairman Daniel Levy demanded. Spurs have not played in Europe’s top club competition since their only appearance in the European Cup in 1961-62.

The clever money before the start of the season was that this was to be their season. They would finally break into the top four, but Spurs have made a very poor start to the season and one win from 10 league games is relegation form.

Still, the fans stood loyal to Jol. They appreciated him. I was at White Hart Lane last night when around 35,000 stood to salute the departing manager, singing his name and applauding him. It was surreal and something I have never seen before.

Sacked managers usually walk out to jeers, boos and catcalls. Martin Jol walked away with the cheers of the faithful ringing in his ears.

Word leaked out about his dismissal during the UEFA Cup match with Getafe. As word spread around the crowd the singing started. Jol waved at the fans. They applauded back. They also sang Levy’s name, but this is a family blog and we’ll not go into that.

Perhaps Levy and his fellow directors will be proved right. Perhaps Jol’s replacement will take the team that stage further and finally bring that coveted Champions League spot. But what if he doesn’t? Does he get three years and the bullet, like Jol.

Here’s a final thought. Arch-rivals Arsenal have enjoyed fabulous success over the
last 10 years and now regard Spurs as little more than an irrelevance. Spurs desperately want to emulate Arsenal’s success and get back to either being their betters or equals.

For much of the last century the clubs enjoyed periods of dominance over each
other. Spurs are unlikely to enjoy that feeling for a long while yet, if ever again.

For since 1996 Arsenal have had one manager: Arsene Wenger. Spurs are about to employ their eighth since Wenger arrived at the other end of the Seven Sisters Road.

The board better be hoping they have finally chosen the right man. Whoever he may be.

Mike Collett, Reuters Football Correspondent, London

PHOTO: Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov reacts after missing a chance against Getafe during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane, October 25, 2007. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez