Harry's no hero

Ian Ridley told The Supplement Newcastle sacked Big Sam because they thought Harry Redknapp was in the bag.

Ian Ridley claims Newcastle sacked Sam Allardyce because they were convinced that Harry Redknapp would accept the job. According to Mail on Sunday writer Ridley, Toon owner Mike Ashley was told by his close friend and adviser Paul Kemsley that Redknapp would take the job, despite snubbing their advances last October. Kemsley is also a good friend of the Pompey manager and wanted him to go to Tottenham when he was vice-chairman there, and Ridley feels Redknapp only turned the Toon job down because of personal issues, rather than for footballing reasons. Ridley told The Supplement: "This goes back to October. Kemsley is Harry Redknapp's big mate and wanted him for Tottenham, but Daniel Levy didn't. "Kemsley is also Mike Ashley's big mate, dating back to business deals they did in their early twenties, and he persuaded Ashley that Redknapp was the man. "Redknapp was offered the Newcastle job back in October during the international break. Harry went abroad to think about it, but came back and said no because his life was too nice down in Portsmouth. "Then the England job came up and Harry didn't get it and his home was raided by the police. When Kemsley spoke to Harry again, he was at a very low ebb and he asked him if a big job came up again, would he take it? "Harry said he probably would and Newcastle thought they would get him.

Local Hero

"However, this is clearly not a football decision because Harry Redknapp knows this is going to be a fantastic job for someone eventually. "They have the fifth biggest turnover of income in English football and they are 13th in Europe. "And when they run out and they play the strains of 'Local Hero' around St James' Park it makes the hairs on your neck stand on end. If you can't enjoy that in football, then you can't enjoy anything." Sunday Express writer John Richardson also questioned Redknapp's decision and suspects the lingering influence of Geordie favourite Alan Shearer might have been behind it. He said: "I don't think he was right to turn them down. You'd swap 20,000 crowds at Fratton Park for 52,000 at St James' Park and the chance to be a hero. "I think Harry has done everything he can at Portsmouth, but I understand why he's turned it down. Family life has come first, but there are some lovely beaches in the north east where he could walk the dogs! "The shadow of Alan Shearer was another factor. There was a story on Friday night saying that Alan wanted the job and if Harry knew if he lost a few games, the fans would be chanting for Alan Shearer. "But I think it was an opportunity that Harry will regret in the future because it was a big opportunity for him."