Pleat to depart Spurs

Tottenham have announced that legendary figure David Pleat is leaving the club.

Pleat will vacate his role as a scout after spending over 20 years at Spurs in several roles, starting as manager between 1986 and 1987.

Pleat returned to North London in 1998 as the club’s first director of football and took charge of the team as caretaker manager on three occasions.

After leaving his role in 2004, he returned again in 2010 as part of the Spurs’ scouting department.

Pleat said: “Football is my life and continues to be. Spurs has been a huge part of that. However the game and its methods change and it’s time for me to now step back from my scouting role. I look forward to watching the club have great success in the coming years.”

Chairman Daniel Levy added: “I should like to thank David for his contribution over so many years and in so many ways. He had, and continues to have, an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and players. I know he will continue to enjoy watching our games at all levels.”