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Gross arrives at White Hart Lane

Gross is at the forefront of a major shake-up at White Hart Lane and at a press conference to mark his arrival, he said that discipline would form the basis of his plans.

"It's important to stop the fall at Tottenham and to build up spirit and discipline inside and outside the team. Teamwork is a key word in my job."

Gross spoke about the differences between the continental game and the Premier League in England. He said: "Here there is a great tradition which has to be kept but English football can take new ideas from the likes of Italy and Spain and it is important we have a mixture to make things better."

"My task is clear," Gross said. "We must aim for the success that such a big club deserves."

The Spurs Chairman, Alan Sugar, also announced that a number of other changes to the club will be made. A new member of the board with a "sound football background" will be appointed. "I am not the man for that role," Sugar said, "but we will shortly be appointing somebody who has the knowledge to sit down with Christian from time to time.".

Former boss Gerry Francis and his assistant, Roger Croft, left the club on Wednesday in the wake of the announcement from Switzerland that Gross was about to take over.

Francis took over at White Hart lane in 1995. In his first season at Spurs, he lifted the team from a position close to the bottom of the league to seventh in the Premiership and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. But he failed to deliver the success demanded by the club's supporters.

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Francis turns his back on Spurs

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