Redknapp: Premiership scares me stiff

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has admitted the prospect of playing in the Premiership is one which fills him with fear.

Pompey secured promotion from Division One last night after a 1-0 victory over Burnley thanks to Svetoslav Todorov’s goal 17 minutes from time.

The victory ended a 15-year absence from the top flight but Redknapp said he was trying to savour the moment rather than think about what lay ahead.

“I just want to enjoy what happened last night and what has happened this season. If I think too much about next season I will be scared stiff again,” said the ex-West Ham boss, who cited the example of his former club’s plight to avoid relegation this season as reason for his worries.

“Unfortunately they have struggled this year, but that’s what scared me.

“When you look at the quality of their players it makes you realise what hard work we have got next year.”

Redknapp has already been linked with a number of players as he begins to plan his squad-building – including Hammers captain Joe Cole – but the Pompey dismissed suggestions he would be raiding Upton Park during the summer.

“I couldn’t get Joe, we wouldn’t be able to afford him and that certainly would be a non-goer,” he said in a radio interview.

“I wouldn’t see myself going back to West Ham for any players. Anyway, I think West Ham will stay up and I am looking forward to playing them next year.”

Redknapp has not discussed with chairman Milan Mandaric what funds will be available for next season but he is planning to wheel and deal to bring in some fresh faces.

“I don’t know if we will go into the market to spend too much money. There will be plenty of bargains around and there will be a few lads around who would love the chance to play in the Premier League,” he added.

“There are one or two in the First Division that, given the chance, could do well in the Premier League but the group of lads I have got will be given every chance because they deserve it.”

Redknapp, along with the millions of Mandaric, has helped transform an ailing club which was in danger of dropping out of Division One and was financial trouble.

After leaving West Ham Redknapp was brought in as director of football at Fratton Park – a job he admitted he hated – to oversee operations with former Chelsea coach Graham Rix as manager.

But poor results accounted for Rix and in Mandaric’s eyes there was only one person to replace him, although the man in question was not so sure.

“When I first came to Portsmouth I did think what had I let myself in for,” Redknapp added.

“As director of football I was like a glorified chauffeur for the chairman. I used to drive up to places like Barnsley with him and I thought ‘What on earth am I doing, I’m wasting my time’.

“It took an awful lot of persuading to get back into management, I did not know whether I wanted to get back into it after West Ham but it has been a fantastic year and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

“We turned it round from top to bottom, brought in Jim Smith and Kevin Bond on the coaching side, and a new group of players have come in from the second and third divisions and the Premier, people like (Paul) Merson, (Tim) Sherwood, (Steve) Stone and (Gianluca) Festa and everyone has been great. It is all down to them.”