Redknapp agrees Spurs deal

Portsmouth boss set for White Hart Lane hot-seat

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 26th October 2008

Redknapp agrees Spurs deal

Redknapp: New Spurs boss

It was a great opportunity for me, Tottenham are a great club - but I honestly loved, my time at Portsmouth - I have never been happier - but Tottenham have come in and £5million is great for Portsmouth.

Redknapp on Spurs move
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Harry Redknapp has confirmed to Sky Sports News that he is going to be the next manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

Shortly after revealing the departure of manager Juande Ramos, sporting director Damien Comolli and assistant boss Gus Poyet - Spurs admitted they had made a move for Redknapp.

Portsmouth quickly agreed to Spurs' offer of £5million for their manager and now Redknapp is on his way to north London.

Redknapp explained Spurs made their first move on Thursday.

"I was in Portugal, waiting for a flight back [after Portsmouth's Uefa Cup match against Braga] and we got a phone call from Tottenham saying they would like to speak to me," he revealed to Sky Sports News.

"They spoke with Peter Storrie [Portsmouth chief executive] and he spoke with Daniel Levy, and I think they came to agreement where the club are actually playing £5milion in compensation which is a great deal for Portsmouth.

"But I think they needed the money, things are right and the club have been fantastic but we only get 19,000 - we tried to sell one more player during the window and in the end I guess they have sold the manager."

Redknapp admitted he could not turn down the chance to move to Spurs.

"It was a great opportunity for me, Tottenham are a great club - but I honestly loved, genuinely loved my time at Portsmouth I have never been happier - but Tottenham have come in and £5million is great for Portsmouth and I will now see what I can do at Tottenham."

He also confirmed that he will be Tottenham boss before their match with Bolton and he is likely to pick the side, alongside caretaker management team Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe.

"It is going to be done tonight [Saturday] and by tomorrow morning I will be in place, and yes I will go to the game and I will be in the dressing room and hopefully we can get a result, and hopefully Portsmouth will get a result too," he confirmed.

Sad about leaving

Redknapp was keen to stress how sad he was about leaving Fratton Park.

"Portsmouth is in great shape, the best players they have ever had and in Tony Adams and Joe Jordan they have two fantastic people, coaches and I would just like to thank everyone for the great times I have had there and hopefully they will go just as well at Tottenham," he said.

"The funds are tight, we were talking about selling players in January, and we were hoping to do a deal or two and suddenly Tottenham have come in and offered £5million and to be honest, it was good for the club to do a deal and for me it is the chance to manage a big, big club before I retire."

He admitted that he has a tough task ahead of him at White Hart Lane.

"They have a decent squad on paper, but it is not a well balanced - I think maybe a soft centre and think we need a bit more strength and aggression," he said.

"They don't pick up two points if they are that good - they have been on a horrendous run of games and we have to get cracking and get some results.

"I am sure Juande Ramos was a terrific manager, but he just didn't get the breaks and hopefully I can go in their and get a bit of luck and pick up some results.

"It is a club with great tradition, we have got to stay up here and take it from there."

No Adams move

Redknapp also confirmed that his backroom staff at Portsmouth - Arsenal legend Adams and Jordan, were unlikely to follow him.

"I don't think Tony would be a goer and I spoke to Joe - but Portsmouth would want to keep Joe or Tony as manager and they could not do much better than taking those two," he said.

He also insisted that the Tottenham offer was very different to that of Newcastle - who he rejected last year.

"The Newcastle one was a great offer, but I was just so happy at Portsmouth it never entered my mind that I would leave," he said.

"This is where I thought I would finish, I was comfortable there but once Tottenham came in, once the offer was made it was difficult for them to turn down a £5million offer for the manager - it is crazy money for a manger and hopefully people will remember what I have done there.

"Once Portsmouth accepted the compensation package it was all systems go.

"I am great friends with Peter [Storrie] and Sascha [Gaydamak. Pompey owner] and hopefully that will remain for a long time to come."