Mandaric, Redknapp ponder futures
In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s come-from-behind victory at Wigan that guaranteed another season in the Premiership, the two men refused to bow to their emotions.
In taking 20 points from their last nine games to condemn Birmingham and West Brom to the Coca-Cola Championship, euphoria was mixed with relief at what they had achieved.
To that extent, it seems inconceivable Pompey chairman Mandaric will walk away, and he has no intention of allowing Redknapp to do the same.
On Mandaric’s part, when he welcomed on board Alexandre Gaydamak as an equal partner in early January, there was the proviso the son of a Russian billionaire could one day buy up the remaining 50% stake.
In Redknapp’s case, when he returned to the club in early December he signed a short-term contract to the end of the season. The acclaim in which both men are held by the fans, notably the 5,000 who sang their praises after the final whistle at the JJB Stadium, should ensure their partnership continues into next season.
Asked about his own future, Mandaric replied: “Give me a few days to sort myself out and get rid of the numbness I am feeling because this hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I’ve not had a chance to think about it because simply staying up and giving all my support to that has been at the top of my list of priorities.”
But then with an indication as to what might lie ahead, he added: “I am sure we will sit down and plan for next season, and hopefully we can avoid this kind of scenario in the future.”
On Redknapp, Mandaric was less circumspect, with the 65-year-old insisting: “We will sit down with Harry.
“We didn’t want anything to detract from the focus of staying up, and Harry understood that. I don’t think there will be any problem in tying up Harry for the future. It will be a formality as far as I’m concerned.”
Redknapp, though, refused to nail his colours to Pompey’s blue mast as he said: “It’s not up to me.
“I’ve not spoken to anybody about next season. It’s up to the people who own the club. That’s their decision. When I arrived I came on a six-month deal. I just shook hands with Milan on a deal to the end of the season, and I didn’t even ask him what he was going to pay me.
“I just said I’d come back for six months, and if I could keep them up then it would be great. I’ll now sit down and have a chat and see what’s involved, but I’ve not really thought about it.” Those detractors who questioned Mandaric’s wisdom in re-appointing Redknapp following his infamous defection to Southampton would appear to have been won over.
Mandaric concedes he made a “bold decision” in asking Redknapp back, one that has been fully vindicated.
Redknapp added: “When I came back it wasn’t easy. I expected some of the fans not to be on my side, and I knew I was putting myself under severe pressure — again! I took on a big challenge, and for Milan it was probably the last throw of the dice because we were marooned with just 10 points from 15 games.”
Mandaric said: “In my seven years at Portsmouth football club this has to be the most emotional moment in terms of achieving something for a lot of reasons.”
“One of those was in bringing Harry back. A lot of people questioned that at the time, and it was a bold decision. But I knew Harry was the only man to do what he has done here, and I am so delighted and happy for him.”
It could have been a different story if Wigan had scored more than one goal but Henri Camara’s 12th of the season was not enough as Benjani Mwaruwari finally chose the perfect time to score his first goal for the club and in the 69th minute Gary Teale handled and was red-carded, allowing Matthew Taylor to drive home a multi-million pound penalty.
: None of the last eight meetings between Wigan and Portsmouth have resulted in a home win.
: Wigan have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 Premiership games at the JJB Stadium.
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