SAM Allardyce gave an assurance today that Wanderers' Worthington Cup drubbing would not damage the club's Premiership prospects.

The Reebok boss apologised to supporters who witnessed the White Hart Lane humiliation and acknowledged that the sponsors might not be happy with his indifferent attitude to the competition.

But he was unrepentant after seeing his side crash 6-0 to Glenn Hoddle's Spurs and insisted: "It will not affect morale, not at all."

Allardyce gambled in the quarter-final, as he had in the three previous rounds, by fielding a weakened team - eight changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Derby in the Premiership three days earlier. But Spurs proved a different proposition than Walsall, Nottingham Forest and Southampton, underlining Hoddle's view that the Worthington Cup offers the most accessible route into Europe.

The result was the heaviest defeat Wanderers have suffered since they were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester United at Burnden Park in the 95-96 Premiership season, their worst in the competition since a 7-2 defeat at West Ham in 1969 and saw Spurs avenge the 6-1 beating they took in the fourth round in November 96.

Yet the manager maintained: "I have no regrets and I would do the same again.

"I apologise to the fans who made the long journey but I hope they will understand where my priorities lie - and that's making sure we stay in the Premiership.

"I said a heavy defeat would come our way some time this season and it has happened but at least it wasn't in the Premiership That would be more difficult to bear."

Asked if Wanderers and Arsenal, who went down 4-0 at Blackburn with a weakend side, were being unfair on the sponsors, Allardyce admitted: "It might be a little unfair but I have a situation where I am working with a smaller squad than anyone else, on a transfer budget less than everybody else and a wage bill less than everybody else.

"I have to look after my own business, above anything else."

Wanderers go into Saturday's Reebok clash with Charlton on the back of three defeats in nine days but Allardyce is confident that with his first team regulars restored, the spirit which has served them so well this season, will be undaunted.

"I have no fears about that," he stressed. "I have to play a game of chess and work out the moves ahead - the Christmas period, Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, Leicester, Liverpool - and make sure I have the full squad available for that.

"We had a good run to the quarter-finals and I picked a side last night that I thought could win the game but the bottom line is that my priorities lie elsewhere."