Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Tottenham's head of recruitment Paul Mitchell is due to remain with the club until the end of next year despite resigning in August.
Mitchell chose to quit Spurs after growing frustrated in the summer transfer window but he was required to serve a period of notice before completing his departure. Pochettino has now said the agreed period was for 16 months.
Despite Pochettino's increasing influence over transfers - he assumed the job title of 'manager' instead of 'head coach' in May - Tottenham do want to replace Mitchell and are actively seeking his successor.
Press Association Sport understands Spurs expect to appoint their new scouting chief far sooner than the end of 2017 and that Mitchell's lengthy notice period will act as a safety net, designed to ensure the role is not left vacant.
Mitchell is likely to leave once a replacement is found.
It does, however, leave Tottenham in the awkward position of having an outgoing head of recruitment still in charge for the approaching January transfer window, and potentially next year's summer transfer window too.
Pochettino, however, insists there is no conflict of interest.
"It's normal," Pochettino said. "It's difficult to find a replacement. It's difficult to move quickly. Always it's to protect our club and our interests."
Pochettino continued: "He is still working and that does not affect the situation for us. When he handed in his notice, the notice was 16 months and he will be working until the end of the season, doing the same job.
"He is doing his job because Tottenham are paying his salary and it's not his decision to sign players - it is Tottenham's as a club.
"But with him or without him, or with another person, it is always difficult to sign players in January."
Mitchell's record since he joined Spurs in November 2014 has been mixed.
