Antonio Conte's departure leaves Tottenham facing a perilous end to the season

With 10 games left to protect a fragile hold on Champions League qualification, Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with their manager Antonio Conte.

The departure of Conte had been signalled, mainly by the Italian himself, with his scathing remarks after a two-goal lead was let slip at Southampton 11 days ago, but if there is genuine relief among some of the Spurs players he criticised that he is gone, the weeks ahead look perilous.

For the remainder of a Premier League campaign in which six clubs are in a genuine tussle for two top-four spots – behind Arsenal and Manchester City – Spurs will be guided by an interim coach whose last senior managerial experience over a sustained sequence of matches was in Italy’s third division more than five years ago.

He is Cristian Stellini, elevated from his role as assistant following the weekend announcement of Conte’s immediate departure from North London.

Stellini is said to be liked and respected by players, as is his interim assistant, former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason, but the challenge facing Stellini is considerable.

Spurs sit two points above fifth-placed Newcastle United, but have played two matches more than Eddie Howe’s team. Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford, gathered just below Newcastle on 42 points to Tottenham’s 49, also have games in hand on Spurs, three games in the case of upwardly mobile Brighton.

All of which featured in Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy’s calculations as he last week weighed up whether or not to stick with Conte for the remainder of his contract, which was to expire in June.

He knew the bad-tempered press conference the Italian gave after the draw at Southampton had severed a bond with senior players. Conte called them, without naming names,