Clemence: Transfer chaos can't excuse Spurs misery

But Clemence is also convinced that sacking Juande Ramos would be counterproductive and insisted that the Spaniard's tenure should only be reassessed at the end of the season.

Spurs have made their worst start since 1912, with Sunday's 1-0 loss at home to top-flight newcomers Hull leaving them with just two points from their first seven games.

Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has struggled to make an impact after the club sold Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, but Clemence claims that the fans and directors must keep believing that a change of fortune will arrive soon.

Clemence said: "The big thing is confidence. They had the transfer turmoil before the start of the season and that was a slight excuse, but it is no longer an excuse.

"All the confidence is draining from these players. They are conceding more goals than you would expect them to.

"The only way out is to work hard and trust in the players you are alongside because there are some quality players there.

"Quality will eventually come through," he insisted. "As long as you keep working hard, it will turn for you. Obviously, it wasn't good in terms of losing at home to Hull City - no disrespect to them, as they are having a great season at the moment."

But, he said, Spurs "were obviously a side that is playing with no confidence and things aren't going right for them.

"They actually played some good football and created some opportunities, but they didn't have the luck.

"They hit the bar and the post, the goalkeeper made a few good saves, but they also missed a number of opportunities that players who were full of confidence would have scored."

Whether Spurs could afford to sack Ramos, who has three years to run on a lucrative contract, remains to be seen, but Clemence is against such action anyway.

He said: "If you look back, the sides that are the most successful are the ones that have continuity and consistency.

"Therefore, to keep chopping and changing at the top end every year is counterproductive.

"A new manager with new ideas would want new players and that would take time again. Ramos has already won a trophy last year with the Carling Cup, which Spurs hadn't won for a number of years.

"It hasn't started well this year, but Ramos has a tremendous CV and as far as I am concerned he needs time. Give him time."