Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged that Tottenham's transfer window has been “unusual” due to the absence of a sporting director at the club.
Spurs are still to replace Fabio Paratici, who resigned as managing director of football in April - although the Italian has continued to work for the club on a consultancy basis.
With chairman Daniel Levy taking the lead on transfers, Spurs signed seven new players over the summer, including the deadline day capture of Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest, but struggled to shift their deadwood; with Friday's transfer deadline looming, only Harry Winks and Harry Kane had left the club on permanent deals.
“It's unusual,” Postecoglou said. “If you look at the way the club's worked previously, [a sporting director has] always been in place. So that means it's different, which I assume won't be the case moving forward.”
Asked if the lack of a sporting director had hampered Spurs's business, Postecoglou continued: “It's just unusual, it's different.
“When there's already a process in place, then you know how it's going to work. Whereas there's a new manager and no sporting director so I think anyone would say it's unusual. Usually you'd have one or the other. Maybe a new coach, maybe a new sporting director but there's processes there.
“Here, you've got both so you're going into a window where a lot of things that are usually embedded in this kind of period aren't there.”
Postecoglou insisted the he would have “final say” on all new signings when a new sporting director comes in and, in contrast to his predecessor Antonio Conte, said he would never disown a player.
Conte labelled Djed Spence and Arnaut Danjuma as “club signings” last season and barely played either.
“I’ve never felt encumbered with whoever I work with,” Postecoglou said. “I usually get my way with whoever I work with. I don’t have total control. I have control of one side of it, [by saying], 'This is a player I think I could fit'.
“But there’s a whole range factors that come into it from the financial side of it. These kind of things I have zero control of. Obviously other people take over then.
“It’s not like I can do what I want. But it’s something I’m really strong on. I wouldn’t see the sense in bringing a player in I didn’t think would fit.
“I don’t care who was putting him forward or giving him to me. Because I think ultimately whatever happens I’m going to take responsibility. I would never say: ‘I didn’t sign this player’ or ‘He’s not one of mine’. Once a player comes into the club he’s mine. That’s how I see it.
“I like working with a sporting director because they do most of the leg work that I just don’t have the time to do. When you’ve got a good sporting director you work together.
“They see the game through your eyes and they say this guy is going to be perfect for you and you look at it and you go brilliant I don’t even have to worry about it. I will never say a signing wasn’t mine. So if I’m going to take that stance, I want the final say.
“I don’t say that [I get my own way] in an arrogant way. I like to think it gives people comfort. I’m going to take responsibility for it. It’s not like I go around telling people what to do. I want people to be at ease that whatever decisions we make as a collective, I will take responsibility for.”
Postecoglou said he would not be involved in the process of appointing Paratici's successor, which he expects to happen quickly now the window has closed.
“I think it will [happen soon], that's definitely the club's plan,” the head coach continued. “It's fair to say that going into the window, there was no point in rushing that appointment, particularly with a new manager in.
“The thinking behind it was that probably the best way to charter this unusual process is to have less involvement with new people as possible. So far, when you see the players we've brought in, I think we've navigated it pretty well.
“I’m not going to appoint the person, I’m certainly not going to get involved in that process. The club have already got a clear idea of the way I work and the way I think and the way I want my teams to play. Whoever that person is … it’s my role then to get him to understand me and see the game through my eyes.
“What I will have a say in is whoever it may be that they get to know me and understand me.”
