Speculation over Antonio Conte's future at Tottenham Hotspur has ratcheted up to a whole new level after his side threw away a two-goal lead against the Premier League's bottom side Southampton to draw 3-3 on Saturday.
As if the result itself was not bad enough, an explosive press conference after the match saw Conte hit out at his players for being too "selfish", and criticise the owners and the club itself for their lack of success under a series of high-profile managers.
Even before that remarkable attack on his employers, there had been speculation that Conte was keen to leave Spurs even before the expiration of his current contract at the end of this season.
While an extension to that deal now seems impossible rather than merely improbable, the chance of the Italian being sacked during the upcoming international break seems more realistic than ever.
Here, the Sports Mole teams discuss whether they think Daniel Levy should part ways with his manager after his extraordinary rant.
Barney Corkhill, Editor
Prior to Saturday's jaw-dropping press conference, I would have said no to this question - Spurs would no doubt have to splash out a significant sum of money to sack Conte just a few months before he would leave on a free, and they were still in a good position in the battle for Champions League football next season.
Being knocked out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League in meek fashion and in quick succession was a huge blow, but that was nothing new for Tottenham, and nor was the nature of the capitulation against Southampton.
Of course, that is the crux of the issue which got Conte so irate, but those results on their own wouldn't be enough to warrant him being sacked. The very public and very strong criticism of his players, the owners and the club - however true many people might find it - could well be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Conte's position is now surely untenable, largely of his own making and perhaps by design, and now the potential damage of keeping him at the club outweighs the financial damage of sacking him in my opinion.
Not only could the increasingly toxic relationship between manager and club cost them in the top-four race, it could also affect the future of their record goalscorer and arguably greatest-ever player Harry Kane.
Reappointing Mauricio Pochettino would be something of an embarrassing - and expensive - U-turn, having spent a reported £50m on hiring and firing manager since disposing of Pochettino, but he is known to have a good relationship with Kane, and had Spurs closer to major trophies than anyone else has managed in recent times.
Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter
Not a single soul at Tottenham would benefit from Conte staying until the end of the season. He clearly wants to leave, many fans want him to leave, and the players will not take kindly to being labelled "selfish" by the man who memorably pushed them beyond breaking point in pre-season.
Daniel Levy did not hesitate to sack Jose Mourinho during the business end of the season, and Ryan Mason has only continued to impress behind the scenes, so it would certainly be worth taking another punt on the 31-year-old for a brief period as Levy scours the managerial market during the international break.
Darren Plant, Senior Reporter
Regardless of an impressive new stadium, frequently competing for Champions League qualification and providing managers with the funds to take that next step, there has been the perception that Spurs needed Conte more than Conte needed Spurs.
When that is the dynamic, it is never going to work, and the manner in which Conte expressed himself on Saturday evening suggested that he was not in it for the long haul in North London.
In my eyes, Conte used that press conference as a reputation-saver. He knows that he is on his way out of Spurs this summer and he tried to pick an opportune moment to show that he should not carry the blame for Spurs' under-achievement. While there was plenty of truth with regards to what he was saying, there was also an agenda.
Should Spurs sack Conte now before a mutual parting of the ways in the summer? Absolutely. Not only is Conte emotionally moving himself away from a team that he has grown frustrated with, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has to show that he is strong enough to sack a manager of Conte's reputation.
He lost his nerve with the Mauricio Pochettino project, he sacked Jose Mourinho days before a cup final and he gave Nuno Espirito Santo just 17 matches in the dugout. Levy would look weak if he allowed the Conte outburst to pass without action.
Andrew Delaney, Reporter
Yes. Conte's words yesterday evidently show he has lost faith in the club, the owner and the squad, and the players do not seem to be playing for him.
He is out of contract in the summer and it is almost a certainty he will not be staying at the club so with top four still in their own hands, bringing in a temporary manager to give the dressing room a lift may be the best option.
Anthony Brown, Reporter
Tottenham Hotspur were unlikely to renew Antonio Conte's contract in North London but it seems what was intended to be a clean break may devolve into embarrassment for the Lilywhites.
Conte did not hold back on Saturday, laying into his players and the club's hierarchy, perhaps intending to force them into action over the international break.
Anyone who hoped for some sort of long-term stay for the Italian can kiss those prospects goodbye as the rubicon has seemingly been crossed, with the ex-Chelsea boss ideally unlikely to be in situ for Tottenham's visit to Everton at the start of April.
Conte's brazen post-match remarks ought to see him depart before that encounter at Goodison Park, although that outcome may be determined by Spurs' willingness to pay the manager little compensation and finding a fitting replacement.
Ollie Hawthorn, Reporter
Tottenham should see out the season with Antonio Conte as manager.
Despite the toxic atmosphere around the club they are still fourth and have Champions League qualification in their own hands.
There aren't any obvious candidates to take over from Conte this late in the season. It is probably worth them re-evaluating Conte's position in the summer when they would have more time and options to choose a long term successor.
body check tags ::
