Pleat – Redknapp doesn't need a director of football

DAVID Pleat believes, despite his great start, Harry Redknapp will need help at Tottenham – but not from anyone with the title of director of football.

Pleat previously held such a role at Spurs and sees it as an important position – but only if the incumbent complements the manager.

Spurs scrapped the post after sacking Damien Comolli, along with manager Juande Ramos, and new boss Redknapp is choosing his own backroom staff.

Kevin Bond has arrived at White Hart Lane, as did Joe Jordan yesterday, while former England players Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand have accepted coaching roles.

Pleat – who is a consultant to Forest boss Colin Calderwood at the City Ground – feels Redknapp will also need to bring in someone to help with administrative duties – a director of football – but stresses that using that title would be a PR disaster.

Pleat said: "The name of director of football does not seem to sound well in this country.

"The perception is he is an interferer who doesn't do his job and makes it difficult for the manager.

"That is not so, you have only go to look back to Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Brian Clough was the front man, the manager, who got all the credit and Peter was in the background."

Redknapp had two spells in charge of Portsmouth, either side of a stint with their rivals Southampton, and won the FA Cup back in May.

He has also managed West Ham in the top flight.

But, despite making a near perfect start to life in charge at White Hart Lane with three wins and a draw, Pleat believes Spurs will still be his biggest challenge.

He added: "Tottenham has a great tradition and history that completely eclipses the values and demands of Southampton or Portsmouth, with the greatest respect.

"Harry will be in a greater goldfish bowl there and he will find it a very big job.

"He can't just deal with the first team – this club has a very wider aspect, there are all sorts of commercial areas, there is a high turnover, there is an academy to look after.

"The attention on a Tottenham manager is great and it is important he accumulates a good staff around him – what he calls them is the trick.

"Don't call anyone director of football – the press, the media, the supporters do not understand it and will not accept it."