Redknapp plays it safe on Spurs’ stadium issue

HARRY REDKNAPP yesterday sidestepped the issue of Tottenham’s 11th-hour bid to take over the Olympic Stadium by joking he was scared of upsetting chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs confirmed yesterday morning they had officially registered an interest in moving to the ground after the 2012 Games just hours before Thursday’s deadline and hours before being given the green light to build a new stadium of their own.

Levy admitted the club were covering their bases – a move which appears to have been prompted by fears a wrangle with Transport for London will see their plans to construct a £400 million (€460m) ground vetoed by London mayor Boris Johnson.

Spurs boss Redknapp believes the planned 56,250-seat ground would be a perfect home for the club, but reckons the Olympic Stadium in Stratford – which is likely to have 60,000 seats for football purposes – would also be ideal.

He joked: “I don’t want to say the wrong one and Daniel goes, ‘What’s he talking about?’ New stadium would be great, or the Olympic Stadium would be great. It’s not up to me; I’m only an employee.”

He said of the new stadium, dubbed Northumberland Park Development Project: “I spoke to the chairman this morning and, if we’ve got permission, that’s fantastic for the club.”

Of the prospect of relocating to the Olympic Stadium, he added: “Stratford’s fine. There used to be a great pie-and-mash shop there. It’s up to people who run the club where they want to go. It’s a long way off.”