Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp admits he is 'flattered' at being favourite for the vacant England job.
Spurs boss remains firm favourite for role
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp admits he is 'flattered' at being favourite for the vacant England job.
Redknapp has emerged as the public's choice to replace Fabio Capello, who departed the job on Wednesday evening when he resigned in the aftermath of John Terry being stripped of the captaincy.
The Spurs boss, who this week was cleared of tax evasion charges, now finds himself odds-on to take charge of the Three Lions, although he insists that he has not yet been approached by the Football Association.
"It is flattering," he admitted. "It's nice, I'd be lying if I said otherwise.
"I'd have to consider it obviously, but there's been no approach."
Redknapp admits being the 'public choice' is great to hear and is pleased to know he has the backing of the fans.
"Of course it is nice, people put me in a position that I have a chance of getting the job, it is flattering and other managers have come out and said nice things," he continued.
"It is difficult, I am focused on Tottenham, the club have been great - Daniel [Levy, Spurs chairman] has brought me here and things could not have gone better. I love every minute, great players, an excellent team and I could not be happier."
Difficult
Some reports have suggested that Redknapp could do the England job part-time and even return to Spurs after Euro 2012, but he insists you would need to be fully committed to the role.
"It is difficult, very difficult," he admitted. "It is hard enough managing a league club, let alone your country, (they are) two very difficult jobs and your focus has to be on one job.
"I think you can't go home thinking 'who is playing well' and then you can't take your eye off the ball with Tottenham, so I owe it to them to keep completely focused."
Redknapp admits he was looking forward to returning to 'normality' after his court case, but just hours later Capello quit.
"I have had weeks of cameras, but it is a better situation today, I just want to get back to normality," he said.
"When all this blew up on Thursday, suddenly the England job comes up and I get talked about. I was looking to calm down for a few days and looking to get back here, and I would like to say thanks to the boys who kept it going.
"When you go through things like I have, you find out who your friends are."
Redknapp also had time for a joke as he was asked whether he agreed with the FA's decision to strip Terry of the captaincy.
"You're trying to get me out of the job before I am in it!" he laughed.
