Pleat starts the healing process

14 April 2012

David Pleat is determined to listen to his staff and players as he returns democracy to Tottenham. Pleat is in temporary charge after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy sacked Glenn Hoddle at the weekend and has prescribed an "open door" policy as a remedy for the players who often felt ignored under the previous regime.

Hoddle was fired after the club's worst start in the Premiership. Levy was also unhappy about the lack of progress and continual criticism of Hoddle's man-management abilities.

Now Pleat, caretaker twice before and manager of a stylish Spurs side in the late 1980s, is adamant he will not follow the route chosen by Hoddle, who rarely listened to his players or took advice from anyone outside his close circle.

Pleat has already lifted the spirits with shorter, more technical training sessions and, while he is not saying if he wants the job full time, good results over the next few weeks will only increase the pressure on him to throw his hat in the ring.

His first job has been to draft Belgian youngster Jonathan Blondel into the squad for tonight's Carling Cup clash at Coventry. Pleat has been a big admirer of the defender, who was largely ignored by Hoddle.

The loss of Jamie Redknapp with a knee injury is a big blow, but the caretaker boss has spent his first three days in the job trying hard to improve morale.

"We have to get on with the job," he said. "The players who have come through the ranks and those who have been brought in have got to be true to themselves and their efforts will reflect well on everyone.

"Deep down they know that every time they go over the white line, they have an image they have to keep up. You could say the advent of increased salaries has meant players are less motivated. But good players have great personal pride for every game.

"The players have to bond together and believe in what they are doing.

"I've learned to cope with adversity. We just have to be sensible and realise every game is important. We have to start getting some results.

"I've no massive preconceived ideas. I've people working here along with me and it will be very much a democracy. I will listen to everybody and I will think long and hard about everything then make a fair decision.

"Nothing has changed since my last time in charge. The goals are still in the same position, the pitch is still the same size and the grass is still green. The only thing that has changed is that the quality of the football has improved. I may only be here for two weeks or two months, but I will look at everything."

As for wanting the job full time, Pleat is determined to keep that to himself for now. He said: "Let's see how the games and the players' attitude goes. Then the board have to sit down and start talking. I am not thinking of me at the moment." Pleat also had sympathy for the sacked Hoddle. Although the pair never really got on he would like to see his predecessor back in the game sooner rather than later.

"Glenn is a good guy. I hope he gets back on track quickly and it works well for him. In football we have all been victim of a similar situation. There is never a right time to experience it, but some times hard decisions are made and there is a victim."

Pleat also knows Coventry player-manager Gary McAllister well. "I have massive respect for Gary. He was my key player at Leicester. I fought like mad to keep him. But he went to Leeds and, with Gordon Strachan, transformed them into a cultivated footballing side that went on to win the championship.

"He is doing very well under difficult circumstances at City. They have not got a lot of money but he understands and is managing for the club and not for himself."

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Pleat starts the healing process

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