Tottenham board fume at FA Cup exit with Harry Kane benched despite Levy and co expecting a proper go at winning trophy

TOTTENHAM’S board are fuming at the team’s limp FA Cup exit on Wednesday.

Spurs crashed out to Championship side Sheffield United, who were rewarded with a favourable quarter-final draw at home to Blackburn.

GettySub Harry Kane came on in vain as a weakened Spurs side slumped out of the FA Cup, 1-0 at Sheffield United[/caption]

AlamyChairman Daniel Levy was among board members upset by Tottenham’s approach to the last-16 FA Cup tie[/caption]

And SunSport can reveal the board were furious with their approach, having expected  a proper go at trying to win a first trophy in 15 years.

Spurs started with  star striker Harry Kane on the bench and produced an insipid display — though stand-in boss Cristian Stellini said after the match he had no regrets over team selection.

Now, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wolves, it leaves a tilt at Champions League glory as the only realistic way to avoid another trophyless campaign.

Spurs host AC Milan on Wednesday in their last-16 second leg, having lost  1-0 in Italy.

The last time Tottenham won silverware was with their League Cup triumph in 2008.

Stellini has taken charge of the team in Antonio Conte’s absence as the Spurs chief recovers from gallbladder surgery.

The 48-year-old is well liked by the squad but revealed he had shown “a different face” to the players after the  defeat  in Sheffield.

Stellini said: “I was disappointed. It’s normal that everyone shows anger after the game.

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“Maybe it was time to show (the players) a  different face.”

Conte will be absent from the Wolves game  but will  be back in the dugout for the clash with Milan.

Stellini revealed: “Antonio’s frustration at not being here is huge.”

Daniel Levy fuelled speculation of a possible Spurs takeover by meeting Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi for the first time yesterday.

The Spurs chairman spoke with Najafi in the paddock ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Najafi, who is chairman of investment company MSP Sports Capital and vice-chair of McLaren, is understood to be working with a consortium on a bid of more than £3billion.

Jeff Moorad, MSP’s chief executive and Najafi’s right-hand man, is a Tottenham fan.

Spurs announced a 15-year “strategic partnership” with F1 on Tuesday, which would see them build a go-kart track beneath their stadium.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ right-back Emerson Royal has been rewarded for his fine club form with a recall to the Brazil squad.