Liverpool great Jamie Redknapp has provided his verdict on Tottenham's season, suggesting the club has gone backwards in the last few years.

Spurs lost 3-0 to Stoke City on the weekend which has forced them to miss out on Champions League football for yet another year.

Of Tottenham's shortcomings, Redknapp wrote in his column for the Daily Mail: 'Four years ago Tottenham were in the Champions League quarter finals. Now they look miles off the top four.

'Their best players this season have been the homegrown lads - Harry Kane, Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason, Danny Rose.

'Of the players brought in Christian Eriksen has been good but even he would be a squad man in that 2011 team - he wouldn't play in front of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric or Rafael van der Vaart.'

He added: 'If Spurs want to improve they can't waste more money. They need to buy some proper players but with a director of football that is easier said than done.

'That role has never really worked - I wonder where Spurs would be if they went through them like they do managers? At least in Mauricio Pochettino they have a man to stick with for the long term.

'The points gap to the top four has increased and with respect to Stoke, losing 3-0 at the Britannia Stadium should not happen to Spurs. But that is where they are. It's time for action.'