Pleat: Clubs can't resist player power

Tottenham chief David Pleat has summed up the frustrations of managers who lose star players to bigger clubs - and insisted they are often powerless to resist.

The transfer window saw acrimonious transfers involving Louis Saha moving from Fulham to Manchester United and Scott Parker leaving Charlton for Chelsea, while Spurs themselves signed Jermain Defoe from West Ham.

However, Pleat believes it is a sign of the times that smaller clubs will lose out when a bigger one comes knocking on their door for one of their key players.

"Nobody likes to lose an asset," said Tottenham director of football Pleat. "As a manager the money is no compensation because he knows deep down in his heart, particularly in the modern game, that some of it will be put towards the club's debts.

"If you lose a top player it is very hard to get someone of a similar ilk. We have all suffered from this, it is not just something which has happened to Fulham and Charlton with Saha and Parker.

"We suffered as big as anyone in the country when we lost Sol Campbell on a free transfer, and the massive contribution he has made to Arsenal is a testament to the work which was put into him at this club.

"But some clubs benefit - Steve McManaman left Liverpool on a free transfer - and that is the way the game has changed.

"Clubs are wary and when players come to 12 or 18 months left on their contract you have to make a decision: Do you cash in on that asset, or do you allow it to run its course and allow the player to leave for free.

"The heartbreak is if you get a massive offer for a player, turn it down, and you don't get the offer again and it runs its course and he leaves for free."

Meanwhile, fans will be hoping to get their first sight of Defoe in a Spurs shirt when the team take on Portsmouth at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Defoe is not cup-tied but did not sign in time to be registered for tonight's FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Manchester City.

Pleat added: "He won't be able to play against Manchester City but if we are fortunate enough to beat them he will play against Manchester United in the fifth round.

"He's eligible to play against Portsmouth but I want to make it clear that everyone has to have a fair chance to play."