Ryan Mason exit: Tottenham issues arise amid manager talk
Ryan Mason has been a terrific servant to Tottenham Hotspur down the years, none more so than as part of the coaching furniture for several years.
Since his enforced retirement from playing, Mason has taken full advantage of his predicament, turning it into a positive with an extensive coaching CV at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Still just 33, the former Spurs, Hull City and England midfielder has stepped in on numerous occasions to take the managerial reins, and now other clubs are beginning to take notice.
Tottenham progress in Europe denying Championship club Mason talks
Mason has been part of the fabric for various coaching setups at Tottenham Hotspur since he returned to N17 as a coach in 2018.
Having flourished as a right-hand man and shown glimmers of his ability as an interim head coach – including becoming the first individual to manage a Premier League game before turning 30 – Mason has appeared on the radar of several suitors.
The most prominent of these right now is West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, the Baggies having failed to inspire this season with a meek ninth-placed finish in the league.
West Brom want to be in the Premier League again, and have reportedly identified Mason as a potential long-term replacement for Tony Mowbray but according to The Sun on Sunday (4 May, pg 55), Tottenham’s continued progress in the Europa League is slowing down any concrete pursuit.
Mason is currently assisting Ange Postecoglou to become the first manager since Juande Ramos to win a major trophy at Spurs, which is his clear priority.
Despite finishing their season on Saturday by putting five past double-relegated Luton Town (3 May), West Brom are unwilling to wait around too long for Mason while other candidates are available sooner.
Postecoglou uncertainty also blurs Mason future at Spurs
Tottenham’s dominant 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night (1 May) has given Postecoglou much-needed credit in the bank with the North London faithful.
However, the Australian’s future is still very much up in the air, and could depend entirely on whether or not Spurs go all the way in the Europa League with one foot in Bilbao’s final.
Barring an unlikely pair of significant semi-final comebacks, the showdown on 21 May will be an all-English affair against an equally Premier League-beleaguered Manchester United.
| Tottenham Hotspur – remaining fixtures | Date |
| West Ham (A) | 4 May |
| Bodo/Glimt (A) – Europa League SF 2L | 8 May |
| Crystal Palace (H) | 11 May |
| Aston Villa (A) | 18 May |
| Potential Europa League final* | 21 May* |
| Brighton (H) | 25 May |
Mason’s mind is firmly on European success with Postecoglou, but he could alternatively find himself in the frame for his head coach’s job this summer.
Elsewhere, interest will continue to build – but with Spurs’ season finale having not arrived just yet, the sliding doors may not align with West Brom this time around.