Santini resigns as Spurs boss

Mabbutt said Spurs are in good hands with assistant Martin Jol and Frank Arnesen still in place at the club.

Mabbutt told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think it'll be a huge problem because he hasn't been there that long.

"They brought in the management team to work together so it'll be interesting to see if they bring anyone else in."

But Mabbutt admitted Spurs' more immediate problem was a lack of goals - they have scored only six in 11 league games.

If he's got family problems you have to be sympathetic to them Former Spurs boss David Pleat

He said: "The team has worked very hard defensively but if you look at the games, the fans would say that going forward we've been lacking."

David Pleat, who Santini replaced as Tottenham manager, said: "I don't think it's been that easy for him. There's been some criticism behind the scenes at the way they've set out their philosophy of the game.

"The perception from the outside is that you shouldn't be surprised about anything.

"But if he's got family problems you have to be sympathetic to them.

I think Tottenham fans were starting to think this could be the turning point Chris Waddle

"You have to hope there are purely family reasons and he hasn't been pushed out."

And he tipped Spurs to recover rapidly from the shock news.

"They will find someone quickly and hopefully recover quickly," Pleat said.

Let others speculate and mock as they will but we should turn up tomorrow and support our team as we do week in week out. C'mon you Spurs! From TS Have your say on 606

"They have some bright young players there. They aren't inferior to anyone."

Chris Waddle said the news was another blow for Tottenham's fans.

"He came in after a poor Euro 2004 with France and started very brightly. They were very well organised and there was a lot of new faces," Waddle said.

"I think Tottenham fans were starting to think this could be the turning point.

"It will be a shock to a lot of people although they seemed to have struggled in the last three or four games."

Former Spurs star Alan Mullery said: "It's a shock I must admit. They must have been serious reasons."