Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood believes the uncertainty surrounding his future has left him as vulnerable as a school supply teacher.
The 45-year-old has been dealing with constant speculation over his job at White Hart Lane since he penned an 18-month contract in December, having replaced Andre Villas-Boas.
The likes of Frank de Boer, Louis van Gaal and Mauricio Pochettino have been linked to the Tottenham hot-seat for some time now - with Sherwood refusing to be drawn into the ongoing chain of rumours.
Former Norwich and Blackburn midfielder Sherwood feels he would need a full season to put his own stamp on the team.
"People will always judge on what I've come in and done," he said.
"You're absolutely right, it's imperative to have a pre-season and bed your ideas in. And also I'm doing it with a lot of uncertainty around my future.
"If you have a supply teacher who comes into your school, sometimes they're not treated with the respect that a headmaster is."
Midfielder Sandro, who has fallen out of favour since Sherwood's appointment, announced on Thursday that he is under the impression there will be a change at the top following Sunday's final Barclays Premier League game against Aston Villa.
"He (Sherwood) will leave at the end of the season," Sandro was quoted as telling ESPN Brazil when asked about his own future.
"Then, new coach, new everything. I do not know anything yet, but I'm happy to have my name talked about with a club the size of Sao Paulo. Anyway, it would be very difficult to leave on loan from here.
"If I was to leave, it would have to be permanently and it is not close. Other teams have come, however, with little money. The chairman (Daniel Levy) negotiates every transfer, this was the case for (Gareth) Bale, it is not easy."
Sherwood hit back in his press conference ahead of the Villa game, questioning where Sandro had acquired such information while also admitting his situation means players are starting to knock on his door.
"If I need any information I'm better off asking the players," Sherwood said.
"He is not the first player to have asked me. He hasn't actually asked me, he has just given his opinion to someone.
"I'm not sure if the chairman has spoken to Sandro but obviously someone has told him, the players see a lot of speculation.
"It begins to be more than that, I have had a lot of players come to me and say their agents have told them that I'm not going to be here next year, it is a very difficult situation but I have got to get on with it."
Despite the rumours over his uncertain future, Sherwood has a good record in the Premier League and a point at home on Sunday would guarantee qualification for next season's Europa League.
Sherwood also confirmed that England right-back Kyle Walker has no chance of being involved in the game as a pelvic injury continues to leave the 23-year-old's World Cup hopes in the balance.
Source: PA
