Spurs anger at Hoddle criticism report

Tottenham today angrily insisted caretaker manager David Pleat had been misquoted in a weekend report appearing in the Australian press which poked fun at former manager Glenn Hoddle.

The Sun Herald, a Sunday newspaper in Sydney, quoted Pleat as saying of the applications to succeed Hoddle as manager: "We've had everyone. Managers, agents, mothers, fathers, dustmen, cleaners applying. To be fair, none of the above would probably do much worse than Glenn Hoddle."

But Spurs' website www.spurs.co.uk hit back today stressing that while Pleat had listed the types of individuals who had applied for the manager's position during a press conference at Spurs Lodge two weeks ago the reference to Hoddle - "none of the above would probably do much worse than Glenn Hoddle" - had been fabricated and was "blatantly and totally false".

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "I very rarely feel the need to respond to nonsense that appears in the media, but in this instance I think it is time to put the record straight once and for all.

"During Glenn's time as manager at this club David was often his strongest supporter in the boardroom and this has been documented.

"Since Glenn's departure David has not, in any way, sought to pass critical comment on Glenn.

"David and Glenn spoke recently and both of them wish to see an end to this type of meddling and stirring by the press."