Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood is nobody's babysitter

TIM SHERWOOD has warned his Tottenham dummies he is not their babysitter - and insisted he is here to stay.

I'M A MANAGER NOT A BABYSITTER: Spurs boss Tim Sherwood insists he isn't keeping the manager's seat at White Hart Lane warm for anyone else

Sherwood questioned his side's character after their 4-0 thrashing by Chelsea and expects a response against Benfica tonight.

But the Spurs boss claims he is already planning for the future - despite growing speculation he could be for the chop this summer.

Asked if he thought he was taking a risk by publicly slamming his flops, Sherwood said: "I'm a manager, not a babysitter.

"A lot of players here are playing for their future and I think they realise that now.

"They have that chance between now and the end of the season to prove they want to play for a giant club like Tottenham.

"I want players here who want to play for the club and they have between now and the end of the season to show that they are playing for their club and not for themselves.

BACK ME DANIEL: Sherwood is not happy that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has not publicly backed him

"Anyone can play bad, can get outplayed - that's football - but what you cannot do is get outfought and out-desired. I do not want to see that happen again.

"I don't want to see a capitulation. I want to see the same desire and attitude from minute one to minute 95. I won't tolerate anything less than that and the players know that now."

Sherwood also had a pop at Spurs chairman Daniel Levy after the Chelsea game for failing to come out and back him publicly.

PLAYING FOR YOUR FUTURES: Sherwood has told his Tottenham players they must play well or face leaving the club in the summer

Levy has still not given him any assurances about his future despite the two men holding face-to-face talks this week.

But Sherwood insists he will not be buttoning his lip any time soon - despite the likes of Louis van Gaal waiting in the wings to replace him.

He said: "I'm never going to take a step back. I'm just going to shoot from the hip. That's what I'm like.

"I don't think I'm upsetting him. Daniel has known me for a long time and knew I wasn't suddenly going to turn into a mute, it wasn't going to happen.

"He knows the character I am and knows what he's getting. He's getting honesty. He gets a little bit more as well.

"Do I have his full support? I think so. I'm planning for next season. It's no good me planning for next season if someone else is coming in.

"I've not asked for any assurances. I've an 18-month contract and I expect to be here a lot longer than that."