Spurs target Lemerre

Pleat, Spurs's acting manager, confirmed that he will have control of the purse strings this summer. He said: "I know our group of players are improving but we have to buy right in the summer. We cannot buy old legs. I will have a say in who we buy and I think we have got the right type of player lined up to lead this the group."

In his playing days, Lemerre was a skilled striker as well as an excellent defender. He spent eight years with Sedan where he won three French Player of the Year trophies - despite earning only six caps for his country. He also coached the French military team for 14 years - with whom he won the 1995 World Military Championships.

France manager Aime Jacquet made Lemerre his assistant in 1998 and he took some of the credit when they won the World Cup on home soil that year.

When Jacquet left the job, Lemerre was his natural successor, securing the European Championship in 2000, but he was then sacked after France's disastrous display at the 2002 World Cup.

Lemerre appears to be suitable for the structure Spurs want in place where he would coach the first-team squad while allowing the club's director of football to concentrate on new signings and contract negotiations.

Meanwhile, Pleat has warned fiery full-back Mauricio Taricco about his behaviour.

The Argentine was at the centre of more controversy during Spurs's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Saturday and may now face the Football Association's video panel who will monitor two incidents.

TV cameras caught Taricco hitting out at Damien Duff in an off-the-ball incident and then stamping on Scott Parker - both incidents went unpunished. Pleat said: "He has a short fuse but people goad him. He has to be careful."

Taricco should have been dismissed for his attack on Duff but ended up with a single yellow card for another offence in the second half before Pleat sensibly substituted him. The FA were today awaiting the referee's report before deciding to hand the matter over to their video panel.

Meanwhile, Pleat does not think his team are far behind Chelsea despite the fact that the Stamford Bridge club outplayed Spurs for long periods.

Pleat said: "This was their strongest team. My players are crestfallen because they got nothing for all their efforts and application. Of course we're behind Chelsea but this shows we're not a million miles away from them."