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Spurs hauled manager Martin Jol in for talks Tuesday about the club's future -- and afterwards declined to back him or say they were not chasing a new boss, amid widespread reports he faces the axe.

The Dutch coach was reminded about the club's expectations of Champions League football, with little to reassure him that they still want him around.

Tottenham Hotspur said they would not comment on speculation but felt moved to clarify the goings on at White Hart Lane as newspapers said Spurs had sounded out Sevilla boss Juande Ramos and bookmakers quoted Jol odds on to get the sack.

However, the club's statement spelled out their ambitions and contained no explicit support for Jol's management.

It also did nothing to counter reports they are actively hunting a replacement they feel would be more likely to break into the English Premier League's top four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and north London rivals Arsenal.

Spurs lost their two opening league games, piling the pressure on Jol, and Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Derby County does not seem to have eased it.

"The club is aware that there has been much speculation over the past few days in respect of our manager, Martin Jol," Spurs said.

"The club does not respond to speculation, but we do feel in this instance it is important to clarify the current position.

"Manager Martin Jol and assistant manager Chris Hughton met with the chairman (Daniel Levy), sporting director Damien Comolli and members of the board today. Discussions were held re-confirming our aims for the season, the development of the full potential of the squad and taking the club forward."

Levy said: "We have had two good, progressive seasons with fifth place finishes. I am an ambitious chairman, we are an ambitious club and we want Champions League football at White Hart Lane.

"We, the board, owe it to the club and the supporters to constantly assess our position and performance and to ensure that we have the ability to operate and compete at that level.

"We have made a massive investment in the squad and as a result we have the best squad of players this club has had for over 20 years and they are equally hungry for success and silverware.

"For that we need our management and coaching standards to be of the highest quality such that players can fulfil their potential and we can compete with the best.

"We have discussed all of these expectations with Martin and he has confirmed to me today that he feels he is equipped with a squad and a determination to take on that challenge."

The Daily Mail newspaper said Spurs have agreed a three-man short-list to replace Jol while The Sun said he was on the verge of getting the sack.

The Independent and London's Evening Standard said Spurs officials had held talks with Ramos, though both parties deny such a meeting took place.

"We had a full and frank conversation and I fully understand the ambitions of the club -- they are the same as those of the supporters," Jol said in the Spurs statement.

"He (Levy) has put a lot of hard work into this club and with the squad of players we have assembled, it is realistic that we should look to challenge for a top four position and I have assured him and the board that that is what I shall aim for.

"The last two seasons we have finished fifth and this season we start with an even better team. So we should be optimistic.

"Yes, it is pressure to deliver, but that is what we managers should expect. Hopefully all the media will relax now -- all I shall be concentrating on is each and every game."

However, the carefully-worded statement is as likely to calm the media storm surrounding Jol as the previous reassurance from a club spokesman that the board were "not at this point in time" negotiating with any managers to replace him.

Bookmakers are hardly optimistic about Jol's position.

Coral suspended betting after two very large bets were placed Friday on him being the next top-flight boss to get the sack.

Before the season started, Blue Square quoted him as being 50/1 to be the first Premier League manager dismissed, the second safest in the top flight after Manchester United's Alex Ferguson. However, they are now offering odds of 8/15.

Sunday's match could be make-or-break, with a stunning win likely to solidify Jol's enduring fan popularity, while a humiliating defeat could show up just how short the Dutchman's team is from breaking into the top four.

The match? An away trip to champions Manchester United.