Pleat stays in charge

Pleat the Spurs survivor

Tottenham have confirmed that caretaker-manager David Pleat and his assistant Chris Hughton will keep their roles until the end of the season.

Pleat will stay at the Spurs helm until next summer when chairman Daniel Levy is set to appoint a new manager.

Levy says he has a managerial target in mind but that he has to wait until the season is over before the move can take place.

Spurs have been linked with several names, including Celtic's Martin O'Neill and Blackburn boss Graeme Souness.

"We have had around 30 people apply for the post," said Levy. "We have not approached anyone.

I think it's the best way to go. They have stabilised the club and got some decent results From Frank Speaker Have your say on 606

When asked whether he knew which manager he wanted, he simply replied: "There are no guarantees, but I am confident.

"A lot of the quality people are in jobs now and have certain commitments, but the summer is a different situation."

Director of football Pleat assumed control of first-team matters after the sacking of Glenn Hoddle following a poor start to the season.

Pleat and Hughton have helped lift Spurs to 12th in the Premiership as well as taking them into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

In the 12 games they have been in charge of the White Hart Lane outfit they have managed to steer the side to seven wins and two draws.

Chairman Daniel Levy told the club's AGM: "This will give the club the degree of continuity it needs until we make our most important managerial appointment.

"We will make that appointment in the summer.

We are currently competitive in the league and in both cup competitions, we have everything to play for Daniel Levy

"We are currently competitive in the league and in both cup competitions, we have everything to play for.

"We have concluded a financial year where the business has produced a record operating profit thus enabling us to be the second largest (net) spenders in the transfer window in the summer.

"We have finished the year with a stable financial base, despite what were otherwise difficult commercial conditions."

Pleat started his managerial career with Luton before taking over for his first spell in charge at Spurs in 1986.

He went on to take charge at Leicester, Luton again and Sheffield Wednesday before returning to Spurs in 1998 as director of football.

Hughton holds Uefa's new pro-licence badge and was appointed first-team coach by Hoddle when he took over in April 2001.

He is also assistant to Republic of Ireland coach Brian Kerr.