Portsmouth chairman Peter Storrie has rapped Tottenham over the way they signed striker Peter Crouch.
Crouch quit Fratton Park last month to reunite with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for the fourth time in his career in a £9million deal.
Storrie is angry after being forced to accept a reduced fee after Crouch rejected moves to Fulham and Sunderland, who were willing to pay in excess of £10m.
He rapped: "So far as I'm concerned, if I don't have to do a deal with Tottenham I will be very happy about that.
"We were prepared to report Tottenham to the Premier League over the way it was being dealt with.
"The reality is we all know managers tap players up. It's part of the game. It's not right, it's illegal and against Premier League rules, but we know it happens. Everyone does it."
Crouch had talks with Sunderland but was set to join Fulham before Redknapp hijacked the deal at the 11th hour.
Storrie added to the News of the World: "Peter was very honest and open about it and said he wanted to go.
"We said you can do what you like with Fulham or Sunderland. He said he didn't want to go there and he wanted to go to Tottenham."