TOTTENHAM could be delayed in having Antonio Conte pitchside as the club wait for his visa to be approved.
The 52-year-old has been appointed as manager today, but he may not be in the dugout in time for Thursday’s game against Vitesse.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs are still working on a permit for the former Chelsea boss.
Conte has signed an 18-month contract with the North Londoners worth £15million, with the option to extend for a further year.
But chiefs at the club are facing a race against the clock to get the required paperwork over the line in time for Thursday’s home clash.
And instead of taking charge of the game against Vitesse as the club had hoped – his first game as boss may be the Premier League clash away at Everton on Sunday.
If that’s the case it’s unclear who will be in the dugout for the Europa Conference League clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
According to football.london Conte will NOT take Spurs training today as he awaits a work permit.
The club is still trying to secure paperwork for him as well as his backroom staff.
That means Conte’s first home game in charge will not be until the clash against Leeds after the international break on November 21.
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Conte flew into London for talks on Monday, where he thrashed out a deal with Spurs chief Daniel Levy.
SunSport understands the former Premier League and FA Cup winner will be given a £150MILLION transfer war chest to revive the club after five defeats in ten Prem games.
Levy and Spurs have been swift to move for the Italian after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked on Monday.
The chairman pulled the plug on talks with Conte back in the summer after the Italian’s ‘unrealistic’ demands.
But now it seems Levy has given in to his requests, with Conte’s appointment now official.
Upon joining Spurs, Conte said: “I am extremely happy to return to coaching, and to do so at a Premier League club that has the ambition to be a protagonist again.
“Tottenham Hotspur has state-of-the-art facilities and one of the best stadiums in the world.
“I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and the fans the passion, mentality and determination that have always distinguished me, as a player and as a coach.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
