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Staff member who just left Tottenham shares ‘nonsense’ detail Daniel Levy told him before exit
Tottenham fans have often been left frustrated when it comes to recruitment under Daniel Levy.
Spurs even became the first club in Premier League history not to make a single signing during the 2018/19 campaign, while the 62-year-old has also been lamented in the past for not helping Tottenham kick on after Mauricio Pochettino turned the north Londoners into title contenders.
Daniel Levy did make a change in the recruitment team at the end of last season – opting to remove David Pleat from his role as a scout – and the Tottenham legend has now shared how that awkward conversation panned out…
What Daniel Levy said to David Pleat
The 79-year-old, who managed Spurs in 1986 and returned to the role in 1998, has now revealed that Levy told him Tottenham have moved to an entirely “data driven” approach, a method he does not agree with whatsoever.
Pleat the Telegraph: “Daniel Levy called me in (July) and said, you know it’s all data driven now, we don’t need eyes and ears. What a nonsense.”
Nonsense indeed. While data obviously plays a huge role in modern football – both in terms of recruitment and performance analysis – there are some aspects that only “eyes and ears” can consider, such as a player’s temperament through character references.
Pleat added: “I didn’t argue. He’s in charge. Actually, I have huge respect for him. The legacy of the new stadium and training ground will always be there. That is all down to him and his drive. Although they’ve won nothing for years.”
That is not all he added, however.
Tottenham fans must be livid
Whatever you think of Levy’s approach to scouting, his response to Pleat asking whether Tottenham could sell his new book in the club shop – with profits going towards finding a cure for motor neurone disease – was awful.
Not only that, but the Tottenham owner failed to even guarantee the Spurs icon a match ticket.
Pleat – who adored Harry Kane – continued: “I’m not expecting it to be a fortune, but every little helps fighting that horrible disease.
“They’re not selling it there (club shop) – something to do with it not being through the club’s official publisher. I asked Daniel if I could have a room there to launch it and do a presentation. He said he’d get back to me. I’ve not heard anything. It’s funny.
“Arsenal gave Bob Wilson a seat for life. They’re a classy club, Arsenal. Me, I was told I can get a ticket at Spurs subject to availability. Subject to availability. Ha! Mind you, Bob did much more for Arsenal than I ever did for Tottenham.”
What a way for Levy to treat someone who dedicated years of his life to Tottenham – some Spurs fans, if not all, must be truly disappointed to hear this.