Tim Sherwood
Sherwood has attempted to warn Pochettino off the Tottenham job.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has fired a warning at Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentine was once again linked with a move to White Hart Lane after only committing himself to Southampton until the end of the season following the mid-week resignation of Nicola Cortese.

Though Pochettino will remain as manager at St Mary's for the immediate future, the boss has refused to commit beyond the end of the current campaign despite owner Katharina Liebherr stating no players will follow Cortese out the exit door.

Despite appointing Sherwood on an 18-month contrast until the end of the 2014/15 season, a host of high-profile managers have been linked with becoming the full-time replacement for Andre Villas-Boas, who was sacked following December's 5-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Pochettino, after he took Southampton from relegation candidates into the top half of the Premier League after just 12 months in charge on the south coast, was among the rumoured contenders while Spurs were also thought to have considered Fabio Capello before installing Sherwood.

Despite winning four of his five league games in charge, questions remain over Sherwood's ability to match Tottenham's ambition of returning to the Champions League and contesting for the Premier League title.

Such is the uncertainty over Pochettino's future at Saints he has again been linked with a move to Tottenham but Sherwood warns any move to north London could accompany additional pressure.

"The expectation at this club is far greater than they have at Southampton," Sherwood stated."We were talking about that last week on the development side and used Andros Townsend as an example.

"If he was at Southampton he would not have had nine loans – he would have had his development through the leagues there; League One, the Championship and so on. Like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott. That is the market they are in.'

"At the moment it is going all right, especially in the league. Long may that continue and if it does, it will be hard for somebody to come in here and push me out of the seat.

"I am realistic enough to know the ambitions of this club are very, very high and the demands are high.

"Recent history suggests there is a tendency to go for foreign names," the Tottenham man added. "The pressure is on.

"There are a lot of English coaches – young English coaches – hoping I do well. A lot of well-wishers who hope it will open up the door for them to have an opportunity.

"It is unfair, but I am happy that it is unfair because I have got an opportunity."

Pochettino was grilled by the media during his press conference prior to Southampton's 2-2 draw with Sunderland and promised not to abandon the club mid-way through a season where they sit ninth in the Premier League and are into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

But concerns are rife that come the end of the campaign the 41 year old's concerns over the running of the club could see him depart unceremoniously in the summer.

"It's clear that I was thinking about many things, especially in the night [on Wednesday]," Pochettino said following Cortese's departure. "And it was clear that I was also thinking about my decision at this club.

"It was a heavy blow to digest so I was thinking about many things. It was difficult to sleep, I am not going to lie. It's a great responsibility to be the manager at this club. And I am fully, 100% decided on staying here until the end of the season and taking the club as high as I can.

"It is normal that we finish the season; then we will see what happens. It's clear that at the end of the season, we will assess the situation at the club and we will decide whether I am to stay another season."