Redknapp rules out Spurs exit

HARRY REDKNAPP dismissed any notion that he was about to leave Tottenham after odds tumbled on him becoming the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season.

Bookmakers slashed odds on Redknapp leaving White Hart Lane from 50-1 to evens at one point despite the manager having led Tottenham to their best start for 50 years.

After taking a training session with the first team before leaving for today’s Barclays Premier League match against Bolton a bewildered Redknapp laughed off the rumours.

He said: “I’m definitely not leaving. It’s absolute nonsense. Absolute rubbish.

“I couldn’t be happier than I am here. There’s not a chance of that happening.

“I love it here and I have no intention of leaving. It couldn’t have gone better for me.”

Internet sites were awash with speculation, some suggesting Redknapp could be on his way back to Portsmouth for a third time in a bid to rescue the club which has gone seven matches without recording a point this season and which this week was unable to pay some of its players.

The Portsmouth situation was compounded when new Arab owner Sulaiman Al Fahim, who has promised a £50 million (€54.5m) cash injection into the club, was taken to hospital with kidney stones.

Redknapp, whose Spurs side have won five of their first seven league matches this season, said: “I left Portsmouth more than a year ago. Hopefully, Portsmouth will get sorted out.

“I don’t know where people dream these stories up from.

“I just hope the guy who is in hospital recovers and puts his money in and Portsmouth will be fine.

“It’s been a difficult year for them.’’

“They’ve sold £80m (€87m) worth of players and it’s sad to see them in that situation.

“I just hope the guy sticks to his word and gives Peter Storrie (Portsmouth chief executive) the help he needs to sort the club out.”