Chris Hughton admits Spurs are a 'special' club but insists there will be no room for sentiment when they play Norwich on Saturday.
Canaries boss preparing to return to old club
Chris Hughton admits his old side Tottenham are a 'special' club to him but insists there will be no room for sentiment when he takes Norwich to White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Canaries boss Hughton spent nearly three decades at Tottenham as both a player and a coach before going on to manage Newcastle, Birmingham and now Norwich.
Saturday will represent the first time he will take one of his teams to White Hart Lane and he admits he still holds the club dear.
However, he also insists that those feelings will be put firmly to one side and is determined to claim all three points in North London.
"Apart from two-and-a-half years when I was away I spent 28 years there so it is a fair chunk of my life really," said the 53-year-old.
"My feelings for that club will always be there. It will always hold a special place. I spent a lot of time there very happily as a player, as an Under 21 coach, as a reserve-team coach and as a first-team coach and assistant manager.
"But it certainly doesn't affect my feelings going back on Saturday, a game I would like us to win and play very well.
My family
"Spurs played a big part in my family, but I would be very disappointed if any of them didn't want me to win on Saturday."
In a bid to keep the Canaries away from trouble Hughton has been very active in the transfer market this summer.
He has brought eight players to Carrow Road, including Sebastien Bassong, Javier Garrido, Robert Snodgrass and Alexander Tettey.
Hughton says he is happy with his squad and his summer deals, but admits he is not a fan of the transfer window itself.
"It's a system we could do without," added Hughton. "But the madness of the last couple of days won't change.
"We're all in the same position. Clubs are looking for what they can bring in and let go.
"It is not an ideal scenario but one you have to cope with."
