Tottenham back decision to ax Conte and bring in Stellini while Spurs speak to Nagelsmann about a vacant job

The TOTTENHAM stars back the venture to hire popular coach Cristian Stellini to take charge of the Champions League.

Some of the squad were happy to see the back of coach Antonio Conte, who left the club on Sunday night.

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The fiery Italian appeared to dig a dig at his former bosses via a suicide note yesterday.

He thanked “everyone at Spurs who appreciated and shared my passion and intense way of living football as a coach.”

It came after he attacked his players for “selfishness” in an explosive final press conference in Southampton as his team gave up a 3-1 lead to a tie.

Although Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and former boss Mauricio Pochettino are free agents, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy remains with Conte’s former No.2 Stellini until the end of the season.

The 48-year-old is hugely popular in the squad and was seen as a calm head when he stepped in during Conte’s absence earlier this season.

His task now is to maintain his place in the top four, just two points adrift of fifth-placed Newcastle – and with two games in hand.

Stellini oversaw the crucial 2-1 Champions League win at Marseille in September when Conte served a sideline suspension.

He also helped secure victories against Manchester City, Chelsea and West Ham while his boss was recovering from surgery.

Spurs have already spoken to the sacked Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann – and Levy will now be looking at other options.

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Some players were fed up with Conte’s training and the way he publicly blamed them.

The Spurs internationals will arrive back at Hotspur Way tomorrow and begin preparations for their next Prem game at Everton on Monday.

Meanwhile, the preliminary hearing in the Turin court on whether there should be a criminal case over allegations of misconduct at Juventus was due to start yesterday – but has been postponed to May 10.

Spurs’ managing director of football Fabio Paratici is one of those accused and is waiting to find out if his 30-month suspension will turn into a global ban.

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