Tottenham and Antonio Conte must decide this month if the manager is staying put next season, says Gus Poyet.
Conte's current contract runs until the end of the season. The club holds the option of a one-year extension, but it remains to be seen if there is an appetite to trigger the clause after three hugely disappointing cup exits.
Last night's lifeless loss to a poor AC Milan side ended Spurs' Champions League hopes, and last week the club were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United. In January, Nottingham Forest dispatched them in the Carabao Cup. Spurs now have just fourth place to aim for during the season run-in.
But Poyet says the club and Conte should only see out the season if the manager will be in charge next term, and believes the ongoing speculation will only negatively impact results.
"We are already in March, and I think that under normal circumstances, everybody would know if Conte was going to be there next year or not," Poyet told Neuecasinos24.com.
"There has to be a deadline this month on his future, in March – with Antonio and the club, one way or another. I’m not talking just about for Antonio – it is important for the players, the recruitment and the overall well-being of the club.
"It’s a strange situation. During the games he doesn’t influence the play, he doesn’t seem to be thinking about how to win the game. Maybe the situation with his health has extended his decision-making time longer but now that he is back, and before the international break, a decision has to be made.”
He continued: "It is something the players are going to be talking about, especially after being knocked out of the Champions League. If they aren’t playing and don’t have a great relationship with the coach, they may be thinking it will be better if there is a change. Or there may be players who do have a good relationship and are trying to influence him to sign the contract.
"I’m trying to think why it is still in doubt. Are they waiting for something or do they already know and it has not been made public? It is very strange. We are not talking about a situation where a manager has finished his contract and everybody knows he is leaving.”
