Former Tottenham Hotspur supremo David Pleat last night claimed the latest alleged tapping-up row surrounding Chelsea "stinks."

Spurs sporting director Frank Arnesen has been suspended by the club and White Hart Lane officials are considering what action to take after claiming their London neighbours made an approach "in direct breach of FA Premier League rules".

However, Pleat, himself a former director of football at Spurs, is less than impressed with Arnesen's behaviour.

"I think Frank Arnesen, having secured a very good job in certain circumstances, has been rather disloyal to Tottenham, if he now needs to go - and he is obviously going for one reason," he said.

"When Frank was thinking of retiring from PSV [ Eindhoven], Tottenham came along, and I introduced him to them, to speak to him about how the football director relationship works.

"They came back and were obviously quite seduced by Frank, gave Frank a terrific opportunity here to continue his career in that role, gave him a contract at whatever money, and was more than happy to come. Now a few months later, he is more than happy to go and that stinks a little bit, doesn't it?"

While Spurs claim Arnesen has been the subject of an illegal approach from the Premiership champions Chelsea insist their approach was above board.

The furore comes just days after Chelsea were fined £300,000 for "tapping-up" Arsenal and England defender Ashley Cole.

Pleat first joined Tottenham for a short spell as manager in May 1986, before later returning to White Hart Lane as director of football six-and-a-half years ago.

During that spell, Pleat had three stints as caretaker manager before exiting last summer to make way for the arrival of Arnesen and the illfated, brief reign of head coach Jacques Santini.

The 60-year-old believes Arnesen should continue to stand by Spurs, who gave the Dane a chance to work in England.

Pleat, however, suggests there is no loyalty in football.

He said: "People have contracts and service agreements, but when players or staff move in 90 per cent of the cases, they have already had the whispers and an initial talk, then comes the formal approach because they do not make the formal approach until they are pretty sure the person who they are discussing is prepared to come."

Cole's position at Arsenal, meanwhile, now looks to be untenable, according to his solicitor.

The 24-year-old England left-back is aggrieved by what he sees as a lack of support from his club, and in particular vice-chairman David Dein over the way negotiations surrounding an improved contract were stalled.

Cole was fined £100,000 by the Premier League for making an illegal approach to Chelsea over a possible transfer, an inquiry instigated by the Gunners.

Arsenal were £5,000 short on Cole's wage demands of £60,000 a week to sign a new deal, but Cole insists his grievance is not now about money but a matter of " decency and the principle of treating people fairly" and admitted: "I can't help feeling it's all over."

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both rumoured to be interested in the £20 million-rated defender, who maintains he would not play for another English club.

Manchester United have reached agreement with Fulham to sign goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

The Holland international has agreed a two-year contract at Old Trafford and will undergo a medical after returning from international duty.

UEFA will endeavour to find a "positive" solution to Liverpool's quest to defend their Champions League crown next season, according to a member of their executive committee.

Pressure has increased on European football's governing body in the past week to include the Reds in next season's competition following their stunning penalty shootout triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul.

Eggert Magnusson, the president of the Football Association of Iceland and a member of UEFA's executive committee, said: "I think a lot of people within UEFA, within the executive committee, have a feeling in their heart for Liverpool, but the rules are there to be followed, and that is something we also have to stand by."

Magnusson, however, said the FA should have sorted out the problem when they realised Liverpool could be in the final or even win the competition.