I knew I was getting sacked by Tottenham BEFORE Europa League final, admits Ange Postecoglou

ANGE POSTECOGLOU knew he was going to be sacked by Spurs weeks before the axe fell.

But the Aussie said he did not want to spoil Tottenham’s Europa League celebrations by telling fans.

Postecoglou, unveiled as Nottingham Forest chief barely three months after his N17 exit, said: “I knew it was coming.

“I knew a long way, a long time before most people.

“It wasn’t the actual decision, it was just sort of things ending.

“It was not a surprise, even if I didn’t think it was right.”

Pressed on precisely when he saw the warning signs flashing, the Aussie, 60, grinned: “That’s for my book.”

But while he was reluctant to say anything about the man who axed him —  then-chairman Daniel Levy, himself on the receiving end of a P45 last week — Postecoglou explained it would have been wrong to go public in the aftermath of Spurs’ triumph in Bilbao.

A crowd of 225,000-plus lined the Tottenham High Road to celebrate the 1-0 final victory over Manchester United.

Postecoglou said: “It was strange but I didn’t want to tarnish the night or the parade.

“I wasn’t going to let that happen. It wouldn’t have been fair on everyone else, me or my family.

“I wanted them to enjoy it and I enjoyed it too.

“We know how hard it is to have success — and when you have it, you cherish it and celebrate it.

“There’s moments that will stay with me forever, with the players,  staff and our families.

“But it was tough. It’s never happened to me before, as everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been a success.

“There hasn’t been a reason for anyone to sack me or move me on.

“And I had success again. That was what the club was craving.

“The football club hadn’t won something for a very long time.

“Every Spurs supporter I come across wants to hug me and take me home for dinner. I must have done something right!

“That’s what we do it for. I’m very proud of what we achieved there. It will always take a special place in my heart.

“Whether I feel it was unjust, other people make those decisions.”

Asked about Levy, he replied: “I don’t think it’s the forum for me to speak about that at length.

“I didn’t have a great deal of interaction with Daniel Levy.

“He was there for a very long time. He invested a hell of a lot in the football club in terms of building it up to where it was.

“He appointed me, so I’ve got to be thankful for that. Hopefully I repaid him by providing that trophy.”