Spurs pin faith on two-track system

Tottenham Hotspur were the busiest major club in Europe during the January transfer window, clinching the signings of nine new players.

However only two, Ireland midfielder Andy Reid, signed from Nottingham Forest, and Egyptian striker Mido, on a loan deal from Roma, are likely to feature in the short term.

For a club with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe through their league position, the temptation would have been strong to go down the "quick-fix" route of the past, buying in household names to secure a top-six finish.

Instead, the club's sporting director Frank Arnesen and first team manager Martin Jol have taken the broader view, snapping up raw young guns who they hope will eventually bring a new golden era to the under-achieving club.

"We have two tracks, one which is the first team squad of around 21 players, and one which will be full of talented 18-year-old's and under-21s," Jol told reporters at the club's training ground.

"Reid was signed for the first track because he will bring a bit of sparkle, a bit of brilliance and creativity to the first team squad while Mido is now our fourth striker.

"The others are signed for the future, they will learn in the second team. We want to improve the football right through this club, then results will take care of themselves."

Reid's former Nottingham Forest team mate Michael Dawson, who joined on the same day for a combined fee of 8 million pounds, will have to wait for his chance along with Egyptian striker Mounir El Hamdaoui, Czech goalkeeper Radek Cerny, Icelandic midfielder Emil Halfredson and David Limbersky.

Derby County's highly-rated 18-year-old Tom Huddlestone will also swell the ranks in time for next season along with Finland international midfielder Teemu Tainio, relatively old at 25, who has signed a pre-contract agreement from Auxerre.

Jol believes the club's fans, desperate to see their side challenging for Champions League football sooner rather than later, will be fully behind the new strategy after more than a decade of mediocrity.

"Take out (34-year-old) Noureddine Naybet and we have the youngest squad average age in the Premier League," said Jol.

"That does not mean we have the best team now, but we want to be one of the best in the future, that is why we have two tracks.

"The fans know what we are doing. We want to get quality young players here now, rather than have to pay big money for them when they are well known.

"We are working together with the board, we are looking for the best young players in England."

VIRTUALLY UNRECOGNISABLE

This season has already seen a shift towards youth with the likes of Dean Marney, Reto Ziegler and Stephen Kelly all impressing when called into the first team alongside established names like Robbie Keane, Ledley King and Jermain Defoe, themselves only in their early 20s.

With older players like Jamie Redknapp, Mauricio Taricco and Kasey Keller all moving on, Tottenham are virtually unrecognisable from the team that finished last season in 14th place.

Reid, 22, said the club's promotion of youth made joining an exciting prospect.

"I was delighted to come to a team that is bringing in young players, I wanted to be part of that," said the Irishman, who could make his debut against Portsmouth on Saturday.