'Not a big club': Ange Postecoglou delivers blunt Spurs assessment after coaching successor axed

Tottenham Hotspur has become a graveyard for some of the game's "serial winners", leaving experts questioning if the club can still be grouped among the big six teams.

In the eyes of former manager Ange Postecoglou, the answer to that question is simple.

"They're not a big club," he told Premier League greats on the Stick to Football podcast.

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The definition of what characterises a club in 'the big six' has been debated consistently over the last few years, with some insisting trophies define that status while others believe it has to do with the team's legacy and revenue.

The lack of trophies in the cabinet at Spurs has seen countless manager's tenure cut short, including Postecoglou. Thomas Frank was the latest to fall victim to that.

However, Frank's departure follows a similar path to those who have come before him in the last decade, with Mauricio Pochettino the longest survivor (five years) in the top job.

But there has always been a sense that something is missing at the club, regardless of how successful the manager appointed was in their past.

"You always felt there was something missing at that football club," Roy Keane said.

"In terms of having a proper DNA, turning up week in, week out ... it is not good. Whoever goes in next is shaking hands with the devil.

"You can't be talking about projects, you have to just survive a year or two.

"Spurs always bring something to the party, but they go home by themselves."

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Gary Neville added: "We all like Thomas Frank ... but when he walks out of that door today, there are a number of managers who have walked out of that club ... they are not all mugs, some of them are serial winners.

"This football club is a shocker of a performer when it comes to the Premier League. Only really Pochettino [had success in the Premier League]."

Postecoglou knows better than most what goes on behind closed doors at Spurs and has also seen the practices of other major football teams across the world.

But just like the final year of Postecoglou's tenure, Spurs are at threat of relegation and it is clear they will have a new manager anyday.

"Having been in that position twice in the last six months, it's tough," Postecoglou said of Frank's sudden but expected departure.

"You know that he can't be the only issue at the club and that's probably the same for every manager, but ultimately (results) are what we get judged on.

"It's a fair departure from me, anyone who studies the game, it wasn't like it was a progression from me."

It was then that Postecoglou dived into the state of the club on a deeper level.

"It's a curious club Tottenham," he continued.

"They made a major pivot at the end of last year, not just with me but with Daniel [Levy] leaving as well. You've created a whole sort of environment of uncertainty because there's no guarantees, no matter which managers you bring in because they've had world class managers there and not had success and for what reason?

"What was the reason for such a major pivot? Thomas was walking in, what's his objective? What's the club's objective? Did Thomas know what he was walking into?

"At the start of the year, it is obviously to compete on all fronts, but the club hasn't competed on all fronts for a long time.

"Then the most influential person at the club over the last 20 years is also going, so if you're going to do such a major pivot you have to understand that there is going to be some instability there?"

Neville then pushed Postecoglou to elaborate on why Spurs was a "curious club", questioning whether that was in reference to what they have built or their processes in comparison to other teams he has coached.

Postecoglou, 60, then confirmed it was in relation to the foundations the club is built on.

"They've built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities," he replied.

"But then when you look at the expenditure, particularly their wages structure, they're not a big club. Tottenham as a club were saying we're one of the big boys and the reality is, I don't think they are - that is in terms of my experience over the last two years.

"When we were trying to sign players, we weren't in the market for those players. At the end of my first year when we finished fifth and we had to sign Premier League ready players. We ended up signing Dom Solanke and three teenagers."

While Postecoglou conceded those three teenagers were great for the club, his opportunities to recruit players of a higher calibre were extremely limited.

"When Arsenal need players, they'll spend 100 million on Declan Rice," he noted.

"I don't see Tottenham doing that."

Postecoglou then said: "When you walk into Tottenham, what you see everywhere is 'to dare is to do'. It's everywhere. Yet their actions are almost the antithesis of that.

"I think what they didn't realise that to actually win, you've got to take some risks at some point. That's the DNA of the club."

Ian Wright, an England legend, admitted his anger watching the behaviour of Tottenham players from the stands, declaring he felt some players have lost belief in the club.

One of those Wright named was Spurs captain Cristian Romero.

"The way he walked off when he got sent off (against Manchester United) made me even more angry because it was like he didn't care," Wright said.

Postecoglou recognised that the lack of belief that Tottenham could become a successful team was an issue he battled with players while in charge.

"That was the thing I was trying to break," the former Celtic manager said.

"My whole statement about winning things in the second year - I was doing that for the club because no one internally would dare say that, they were just scared.

"I remember the day of the Europa final ... that was one of the few times that Levy came in and had a coffee in the morning with me. He said something to me like, 'Oh, you know what? I've been in seven finals and we haven't won one'.

"I knew we'd win that day. I was just convinced the path we'd taken was (the right one)."