Downing 'Too Good' For Spurs!

"There's a certain level that, if Stewart's going to leave this club, he should be going to.

"I'm not knocking Tottenham but I've had plenty of conversations with Stewart about his future, the majority of which I'd prefer to keep private. He totally understands I want the best for him.

"If we'd had seven more points now it could quite possibly have been a different situation.

"I've had several talks with Stewart this week and he knows I can't put him first at the moment.

"Timing is the key issue. Stewart is such a talent, such an important player to us that, at this time of year, there's no way of replacing him.

"We'll be a lot more sympathetic to players at the end of the season when we have time to adjust plans but it's very difficult to bring replacements in during January."

"It's difficult to get players to come to a club such as ours and particularly when we're in our current league position.

"There was a time when we paid the sort of wages very few other clubs were paying but that's not the case anymore."