Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has issued a statement denying that a compensation package has been agreed for Martin Jol to leave White Hart Lane.

Jol's position as boss has appeared under threat since Spurs officials met Sevilla coach Juande Ramos last month, and Levy was linked with a move for Jose Mourinho last week when the 'Special One' left Chelsea.

With Ramos understood to be staying in Spain for the time being and Mourinho ruling out a move to an English club as his ''next step'', there are no obvious candidates to take over should Jol depart.

The mess at the club since the start of the season has created the impression of the Dutchman merely keeping the seat warm, yet Levy insists there has been no crisis meeting since the draw against Bolton left them in the bottom three of the Premier League.

Levy said: ''There has been no board meeting, let alone any emergency board meeting, and reports that we have agreed a compensation package with Martin are wholly inaccurate. We have not even discussed the subject and there is no reason to do so.

''We will not allow ourselves to be side-tracked or undermined by external agendas or media hype. Our focus is on winning games.''

Jol has been told to aim for the Champions League this season but winning a cup looks the more likely route to success at the moment, and they face Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup tonight.

Jermain Defoe's place in the pecking order has contributed to a campaign characterised by internal problems, and the striker could be recalled after getting left out of the matchday squad for the Bolton clash.

Gareth Bale is also in the reckoning for the third-round clash at White Hart Lane