Tottenham news: This may be real reason for Steve Hitchen’s exit – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested there were too many “voices” behind the scenes at Tottenham before Steve Hitchen’s exit.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the arrival of Fabio Paritici and Antonio Conte may have led to differing opinions in terms of squad building and recruitment.
Tottenham confirmed on Wednesday (2 February) that Hitchen had left his post as technical performance director.
His departure comes less than a year after Paritici’s appointment as the club’s managing director of football.
Chairman Daniel Levy is also known to be heavily involved in the recruitment process.
With Conte now on board, Whelan suggested there were too many opinions in terms of how the club should be run.
Reacting to Hitchen’s exit, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Honestly, this is football, isn’t it? There are always going to be changes.
“New managers, people coming into different roles. I think sometimes fewer voices makes things easier. That’s probably the case here.
“Steve Hitchen’s had a long time at the club but during that time there have been some bad signings. It hasn’t always gone swimmingly at Tottenham. We’ve always expected more from them.
“I think now, when you’ve got a strong manager in Antonio Conte, Paratici coming in as well, there are going to be changes. It’s as simple as that.
“It’s unfortunate, but no one’s job in football is safe.”
Hitchen had two spells on the recruitment team in north London, having been a scout between 2005 and 2010.
He returned in 2017 to become head scout before taking over as technical performance director in recent years.
In other news, Tottenham tipped to strike cut-price deal to sell senior star.