Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been heavily criticised for approaching Ramos while Jol was still in his post, and for telling the Dutchman Tottenham had to qualify for the Champions League.

However, Mills met Ramos and his management team over dinner this week and the businessman, who is also vice-chairman of the London 2012 Olympics organising committee, was hugely impressed by the Spanish coach.

Mills told PA Sport: "We have a new management team in place and I think they are an exceptional team.

"No targets have been set. Of course as a club you want to win competitions and that's what the management team will be focused on.

"I had dinner with them on Tuesday night and they know exactly what they are going to do, they had a real sense of purpose.

"For them to get themselves established is going to need weeks and months but Daniel and the rest of the board are very confident."

Jol was sacked in controversial circumstances. First board members - not including Mills, a non-executive director - were pictured meeting Ramos in a Seville hotel, leading to accusations they had undermined the Dutchman.

Then, Jol finally got the sack some weeks later immediately after the UEFA Cup defeat by Getafe but not before news of his dismissal had spread through the crowd first.

Mills admitted: "Of course it could have been handled better but when you are dealing with change in any organisation it is complex and often painful.

"I'm sure everyone regrets the media coverage we have had for the last couple of months but you just do not make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

"We needed to move on as a club, that's now behind us."