MARTIN JOL is looking forward to an “extra special” afternoon when the Fulham manager faces Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow for the first time since he departed White Hart Lane in difficult circumstances four years ago.

Despite taking Spurs to consecutive fifth-place finishes, the Dutchman was sacked in late October 2007 during a Uefa Cup game with Getafe and replaced by Juande Ramos. Two club executives had previously been photographed with the Spaniard.

Yet Jol says he bears no grudge against the Tottenham hierarchy. “It will be very special,” he said of a game against the club where he was promoted to replace Jacques Santini as manager after a brief spell as the Frenchman’s assistant. “It was a great time. Three years and four months (at the club) – not now, but probably at the time it was a record (in fact Gerry Francis is the longest-serving Spurs manager in the Premier League by two weeks). I still have positive feelings, which is the most important thing. And even in that last game (against Getafe) you could get some positives out of it.

“The first and main thing is that we get the points. It doesn’t matter who we play. But it’s probably the first time that I see the fans again and play against Spurs. Of course they are getting on and have improved. They have a great squad. I always like to watch them.”

Asked if he has a good relationship with Daniel Levy, despite the Spurs chairman’s public pursuit of Ramos, Jol said: “Yes.” But he would not be drawn on whether he took any satisfaction in Ramos failing to last more than a year at the club. “It’s better for me not to answer that or say things,” he said.

GuardianService