Harry goes home to Pompey
Redknapp praised Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric for giving him a second chance to manage the club - a year and 13 days after a major row between the two forced him out of Fratton Park.
Mandaric said: “As soon as I knew Harry was interested in coming back there was only one person I wanted and now I have got him.
“We had our disagreements but we are above and beyond that now and are looking at the bigger picture. We have a huge, huge challenge on our hands. 10 points from 15 games says it all.”
“Redknapp took Portsmouth to promotion in his first season in charge and then kept the club in the top flight before leaving when Velimir Zajec was brought in above him as director of football.
Redknapp said: “Milan has taken a big gamble getting me back and the fact he wanted me was the key.
“It was a massive mistake leaving Portsmouth and I am looking forward to starting again. All that matters is staying in the Premiership.
“I had the best couple of years of my football life here and there was not a day when I did not regret leaving.
“I would love to be here for three or four years but who knows in football. The first job is to stay up.”
Mandaric refuted claims by Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe that Pompey had made an illegal approach for their Manager.
Lowe said Pompey had not acted within the rules of the game but Mandaric dismissed the claims swiftly.
“What game does he mean? Hockey, rugby, cricket? We did everything by the book as far as I am concerned.
“I would have thought he had better things to worry about at Southampton than this. When I tried to get hold of him earlier this week to discuss Harry’s position, he was out duck shooting and I was left to wait to speak to him.”
Redknapp leads Portsmouth at Tottenham on Monday and will take training at the Club’s training ground on the fringes of Southampton today.
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