Premier League managers have backed Juande Ramos to turn Tottenham Hotspur's fortunes around despite the club making their worst ever start to a league season.

The Spaniard's future as head coach is hanging by a thread after his team, bottom of the table with only two draws from eight league games, made a disappointing start in the Uefa Cup group stages with a 2-0 defeat at Udinese.

However, despite Ramos facing calls to leave his post, his counterparts insist he will turn the club around.

Rafael Benitez, whose Liverpool team play Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the Premier League on November 1 and the Carling Cup on November 12, offered support to his Spanish compatriot. "I remember that when Martin Jol was fired I was surprised, because Spurs had twice finished fifth," he said. "That was a very good achievement. But they decided to change and they won the Carling Cup, the team was good and the team is good now.

"But I am sure Spurs will be higher soon. People talk about relegation, but I do not think so, they have enough quality to be much higher. They have good players. To finish fifth twice, and to progress last season, I feel they will be okay.

"They have enough experience and I am sure they will finish in the middle [of the] table. And I believe and expect Ramos to survive there as manager."

Arsene Wenger, while cautious not to get involved, admitted he respected Ramos and he should be left to get on with his job. "I believe all of the clubs go through difficult periods and the best is that you do not interfere," the Arsenal manager, said. "I want to focus on my job. I respect Ramos and for the rest, it is important everyone focuses on their own job."

Gary Megson, whose Bolton Wanderers side travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday, was critical of the director of football position that he feels has underminded Ramos. "I don't know enough about the Tottenham situation to be able to comment on them but what I would say is that the director of football thing doesn't work unless you have complete transparency," he said.

"I had it at Blackpool and it certainly didn't work. That was an appointment that was made before I got there. I didn't particularly enjoy it and it didn't last very long.

"But then again I've worked with a director of football at Stoke in John Rudge and it did work. But if you are going to go in with somebody who is going to direct the football then the manager has to choose that person and trust them. Everybody has to know what is actually going on.

"If the director of football of any club has signed players then they have to come out and say 'that was down to me'."