Tottenham players expect it is only a matter of time before Antonio Conte leaves the club

  Conte is out of contract in the summer and many players now think they will be working under a new head coach next season.

  The players are willing to accept responsibility for poor performance and results but there is a sense Conte came close to crossing a line by calling them selfish and questioning their commitment to the club on Saturday after the 3-3 draw at Southampton.

  Tottenham do not play again for a fortnight and that has given Daniel Levy a short period of time to decide whether he should take action against Conte.

  Conte has clarified to the spurs board that his furious outburst was aimed purely at the players and not the owner or the chairman, He also appeared to attack the club's ownership but it is understood Conte's clarification to the board pointed out he asked why only the club and managers take responsibility for not winning while the players get "alibis".

  Tottenham's collapse at St Mary's capped off a miserable March in which they were dumped out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League to leave them trophyless since 2008.

Conte

  "This is not the first time Antonio Conte has criticized the owners or players. There is a pattern, he has done this at his previous clubs as well.

   Spurs have a bit of breathing space, there is a little bit of time before Levy decides what to do next, but if Antonio Conte were to lose his job, I'm not sure many people would be surprised."

Say's Sky Sport News chief reporter Kaveh Solhelkol