The meeting represents an unconvincing vote of confidence for Jol who has had the club aims this season reiterated to him after a difficult start in the league. "We are an ambitious club and we have discussed our expectations with Martin", read Levy's statement on the clubs website. "Martin has confirmed to me that he feels he is equipped with a squad and a determination to take the challenge."
In a response that sounded like it was drafted at gunpoint, Jol confirmed he understood what was expected of him, stating: ""We had a full and frank conversation.
I fully understand the ambitions of the club - they are the same as the supporters. 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 statement stopped short of guaranteeing Jol's long term future and it is now clear that his tenure at Spurs is inextricably linked to the team breaking into the top four of English football. Quite why this needed to be so publicly broadcast is beyond comprehension, as is why the board felt it necessary to repeat a message they probably gave Jol during the summer. It is thought that several club officials had questioned his ambition after he stated several times in the run up to the beginning of the season that finishing fifth again would be a great achievement.
Whatever supporters think of Martin Jol's managerial style, he has not deserved such shabby treatment by the club. The way the situation has been handled is laughable at best and last nights hastily prepared statement smacks of the clubs failed attempt to lure Jaunde Ramos, the Sevilla coach, to White Hart Lane (at least for the foreseeable future). Ramos is thought to have his heart set on managing Chelsea after being informed by Fabio Capello, who has many contacts at Stamford Bridge, that he is held in high regard by the club.
What is clear is that Levy's statement is unlikely to draw a line under the whole sordid affair despite Jol being hopeful that he will now be left alone to get on with the job in hand, saying: "Hopefully all the media will relax now - all I shall be concentrating on is each and every game."
The unconvincing nature of the statement, however, is bound to lead to more press speculation regarding Jol's future, and it remains difficult to envisage Jol being able to continue in his position if the team capitulates at Old Trafford this weekend. The robotic, unclear and forced nature of last nights statement has led the club to clarify this morning that, unequivocally, 'that no individual was or has been offered the position of manager/coach at this Club whilst that position has been held by Martin Jol'. Convinced? thought not.
Though Spurs fans will hope that this will be the end of the speculation and that the club can get back to concentrating on football, few would be surprised if this were the last we were to hear of a shameful few weeks for all those concerned. After trying so hard to rebuild the clubs image with a neat new badge, continental structure and a lucrative sponsorship deal, the handling of the situation has been a PR disaster, showing the club to be rife with internal squabbles and infighting. Let's hope that in the future the club don't feel the need to wash our dirty laundry so publicly.