Get all the jungle gossip with our regular email newsletter Yes please! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Tim Sherwood is set to be put in charge of the careers of Tottenham’s young stars – fuelling theories he is being groomed as a future boss.

And Sherwood’s work with the Spurs kids could be helped by Ledley King, whose retirement from playing is on the verge of being formally announced.

Sherwood was one of the few survivors of former manager Harry Redknapp’s reign and the ex-Tottenham midfielder is highly thought of by chairman Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis.

He played an instrumental part in helping to choose Andre Villas-Boas as Redknapp’s successor and is now being given a more important role himself.

Although his exact title is being finalised, Tottenham have told Sherwood he will be in charge of deciding how exactly the club’s youngsters and fringe players will be developed.

He will recommend to Villas-Boas whether the likes of Jake Livermore, Harry Kane, Adam Smith and Tom Carroll should be loaned out or kept around the first-team squad to develop.

Sherwood, who will also help with first-team coaching, played a part in the decision to sign 19-year-old Ezekiel Fryers from Manchester United and will highlight more young talents for the club.

Sources within White Hart Lane believe Sherwood’s role is a clear indication the 43-year-old is being primed as the next manager if and when Villas-Boas, who has a three-year contract, moves on.

He will be in the perfect position to pick up the reins if, as Levy hopes, Spurs eventually have a first-team squad made up largely of their young talents.

As revealed by Sunday Mirror Sport two weeks ago, King has accepted he must now retire from playing and has been in discussions with Tottenham about his next job.

King has already been made an ambassador of Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s plan to regenerate Tottenham and he will be heavily involved in Spurs’ community and new stadium projects.

Tottenham will also give King the chance to coach and pass on his vast expertise to some of the lower age-level players Sherwood is in charge of.

More Tottenham news: