Redknapp not finished yet
Kanu’s 37th-minute goal was enough to account for Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff at Wembley on Saturday and book Pompey’s place in next season’s UEFA Cup.
There had been suggestions prior to the final that Redknapp, who has endured a stressful and traumatic season, would consider retirement after 25 years in management should his side be victorious.
But nothing appears to be further from the truth.
“There’s no way I’m going to pack up. It’s never entered my mind,” said Redknapp, who this season has had his house raided by anti-corruption police and is still mourning the death of sister-in-law Pat Lampard, mother of Chelsea midfielder Frank, last month.
“I don’t know what I would do without football and there’s no way I am going to walk away from Portsmouth again. I’ve done that once and we all know what happened.”
The 61-year-old was referring to his brief flirtation with south-coast rivals Southampton after leaving Fratton Park in November 2004 because of differences with then owner Milan Mandaric before returning a year later.
Some pundits took his low-key reaction to the Wembley victory as a sign Redknapp had finally had enough of management.
But, especially in light of recent events, he said it was just not his style to jump around on the touchline.
“I don’t go mad at anything anymore,” he said. “It’s been difficult. My wife has been so low and I suppose it’s not been easy the last few weeks.
“It’s hard for me when she’s like that but I wanted to win so badly to get a smile back on her face and she knew how much it meant and was so happy about how the day went.”
Meanwhile Redknapp has been promised summer transfer funds to boost his squad.
‘‘We’re not going to stand still now, we have to build on it,’’ said Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie.
‘‘We’ve got quality players and now, at our level, we have to bring in more and widen the squad a bit."
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