Tottenham Hotspur let go of David Pleat, 79, as their consultant scout at the end of last season, with chairman Daniel Levy telling the former Spurs manager that the services he had rendered since 2010 were no longer required.
Pleat spotted and brought in the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Dele Alli and Ben Davies to the North London club, but Spurs are moving on from traditional scouting and are now concentrating on data analytics and science instead.
The veteran scout was not pleased with the decision but accepted it in good faith following talks with the Tottenham supremo.
“Daniel Levy called me in and said, ‘you know it’s all data driven now, we don’t need eyes and ears’,” Pleat told the Telegraph.
“What a nonsense. 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.”
Pleat has also expressed his dissatisfaction at what Spurs told him when he asked to launch his newly published autobiography and demanded to get tickets for matchdays.
“They’re not selling it there, something to do with it not being through the club’s official publisher,” he revealed why there will not be any copies available in the Tottenham club shop.
“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.”
Wilson was a goalkeeping coach for Arsenal for 28 years until retiring in 2003 having made 310 appearances for the Gunners between 1963 and 1974, and he deserves a permanent ticket without a doubt.
Pleat also does, but Levy is not keen on rewarding him for the good job he did as a former Tottenham manager and scout with a seat at the stadium.
The Spurs chairman continues to divide opinion, and not many would be surprised at how he has treated Pleat.
