Former Rangers boss Graeme Souness says he can understand Antonio Conte leaving Tottenham.

Souness claims Spurs lack the "serious pros" a manager needs to bring success to the club.

He wrote for the Daily Mail: "... ultimately, Conte was right, it comes back to the players. They might talk like big players and big characters, but are they? I would suggest not, because they don't bloody win anything. And what is a big player? Is it someone who gathers those around him and makes them better? Or is it just about being selfish and looking after your own game?

"I never get fed up of saying that, as a manager, you have no chance of being successful unless you have good senior pros. That will never change. I would suggest, therein lies your problem at Spurs.

"I'm not sure Tottenham have any of those players and it strikes me they are crying out for senior pros who will take responsibility, dig others out and be prepared to go out on a limb for the cause.

"This is as much a wider point, but players live in a bubble these days, this absolute false existence where they have no awareness of what is going on outside of their world, in terms of how difficult life is for the vast majority of people and the importance they play in people's lives.

"They turn up for work in the most glorious surroundings - they are the pampered pooches of professional sport in our country. Do they want to risk upsetting that cosy existence by standing up and saying to their team-mates, 'You're not doing it. You're not doing it. We need more from you!'?

"Tell me, who would do that at Spurs? I don't think there is anyone there who is prepared to properly fall out with his team-mates."