ALAN SUGAR has promised to quit Tottenham in three years if his policy of prudence over extravagance proves a flop. The club's chairman is under increasing fire from supporters for refusing to join the trend of splashing out on big-name, big-money players, especially foreigners. But Sugar is prepared to keep those fans frustrated.

"My personal, target is three years to win the championship or at least be in Europe and challenging for the title regularly." he says. "I want to demonstrate that this club can reach a great status-without irresponsible dealings in the transfer market.

"If I'm wrong, in three years' time the supporters can start screaming and shouting. Then some other guru from Bethnal Green can come and sort things out that are wrong.

Supporters were particularly critical when the club's recent announcement of a £12 million profit coincided with some uninspiring performances by Gerry Francis's struggling side.

But while Sugar has made about £10 million available for new players, he refuses to follow the spending sprees of clubs such as Newcastle and Middlesbrugh. Of these type of chairmen Sugar says: One side of them knows it's completely wrong, the other side is seduced by the glitz. ,They are going to have to go through a disappointment like Klinsmann to learn.

And Sugar has this word for the Spurs supporters clamouring for big signings: "They are like my kids were when they were young: they all want a racing car now. Well they can't have it. Every sensible fan doesn't spend more than they've got in their own life. Why can't they understand it at Spurs?"

The chairman says that having sorted out Tottenham's finances, his next target is to "have a team that's not been bought in the close season to build a team that's got depth and strategy and to build it with a selection of players people maybe never heard of, to nurture them, build them up, teach them a strategy, I am not going out to buy a team, a superficial team that is just going to give you a bit of glitz for six weeks.