Spurs to protect Poyet

Tottenham will tell managerless Newcastle they have no chance of luring number two Gus Poyet to St James' Park.

Poyet, who worked with Newcastle executive director Dennis Wise at Swindon and Leeds before being headhunted to assist Juande Ramos, has emerged as a strong contender for the vacant post.

However, Tottenham will insist they have no intention of letting Poyet, who was recently linked with the vacant assistant's post at Manchester United, leave White Hart Lane.

A club source told the Sun: "Gus is on a long-term contract having only joined the staff a year ago. So it wouldn't be cheap if Newcastle tried to get him.

"But it won't even get that far. There's no way they'll get permission to talk to him.

"Gus will be a great No1 one day but he's happy at Spurs and is held in very high regard here."