Mandaric and Redknapp clear the air

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric met former boss Harry Redknapp today to publicly clarify the transfer policy at Fratton Park.

Redknapp stood down last week after weeks of uncertainty over his future at the Premiership club.

Mandaric appointed Velimir Zajec as an executive director earlier this month, signalling a change in structure where the former Panathinaikos director of football would take charge of transfers.

The Pompey supremo recently suggested the club had paid £3m (€4.3m) in fees to agents during Redknapp’s two-and-a-half-year reign. However, Mandaric denied any wrongdoing from his former manager.

“Harry was never involved in, at any time, any transfer or contract negotiation throughout his career at the club,” he said.

“At no time did I ever imply there was any wrongdoing from Harry Redknapp in these transactions. I was simply stating agents take so much out of our game.

“Along with my other Premier League chairmen (I want to) to reduce their influence in all club finances.

“It is the time to draw a line under the soap opera that surrounded Harry and myself. To achieve what Harry has been able to achieve is a phenomenal record in the world of football.”

Mandaric, who refused to take any questions from the assembled press, added: "I just hope I was clear and loud and you give this message to our supporters so we can get on with our lives.''

Redknapp reiterated that his resignation was “one million per cent” his own decision.

He also insisted he had no hand in transfer negotiations as he said: “I felt it was important to clear up what had been going on. I saw that headline and I’ve never been so shocked and disgusted in my life. I’ve done nothing but good for the club.

“As you’ve heard, 31 different agents were used in deals and I couldn’t tell you what any of our players earn. When I look to sign a player, I find them, talk to them and make sure they want to come and play football for me. After that, that’s the end of it as far as I’m concerned and then it’s over to someone else.

“When you look at that record of £10m (€14.3m) spent over two-and-a-half years I’ve been here it speaks for itself. I didn’t deserve those headlines.”

Asked whether there was any hope of him returning to Fratton Park, Redknapp added: “There’s a future for Milan, but not for me. I’ve had a great two-and-a-half years here but the club moves on.

“I decided to quit because it was time to move on and it was one million per cent my decision.

“I’ve gone, let the next man come in and get on with the job. This needed to be done, I don’t deserve the innuendoes, we needed to clear the air and Milan’s done that.”

Redknapp insists he has not yet been contacted by any other club with a view to returning to management, but believes his record makes him an attractive proposition, particularly to chairmen of Coca-Cola Championship clubs.

“Have I spoken to other clubs? None at all, I haven’t spoken to other football clubs. I haven’t gone down that road. If I rang any chairman up in the First Division and said ‘look, for £10m I can get you out of the First Division and keep you in the Premiership for two years’ I think I would have a few offers.”