Redknapp could face spell on sidelines

Harry Redknapp is facing the prospect of six months in the football wilderness after walking out on Southampton.

Redknapp, who admitted he made a “monumental mistake” by leaving Pompey to join Southampton a year ago, is now expected to rejoin the Barclays Premiership club.

But Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe is determined Portsmouth’s handling of the affair warrants some recompense for his club.

Redknapp feels “in limbo” as he waits to hear from Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric.

“When I said I wanted to speak to Portsmouth I knew that was it with Southampton,” said Redknapp.

“But it looks like a stalemate now, I am sort of in limbo because I have had no contact with anyone. I could not say it is definitely going to happen – the chairman at Southampton wants his compensation.”

He continued: “It’s a tough, tough job – make no mistake about that. There is a lot of work to be done – but I would love to go back there and try to keep them up.”

Redknapp does not regret leaving his previous job, adding: “I found it quite difficult at times at Southampton so I will take the chance I will not work for six months – if I am out of football now, then so be it.

“If it does not work with Portsmouth I will get my golf handicap down!”

He admits his managerial skills will be tested to the limit if given the Portsmouth job.

“The challenge I would be taking on at Portsmouth is similar to the one I took on last year – with a team in the bottom three after 15 or 16 games.

“I know I am going to have to win some fans back over and I can understand that – they treated me brilliantly and if I had gone to any other club it would not have been a problem. Maybe I did not realise how much rivalry there was between the two clubs.

“I will be putting myself under severe pressure if I go back – they are not the team I left behind.”

Lowe wants compensation and has also asked the Premier League to look into the matter.

He said: “When somebody comes to take somebody else’s manager, the usual etiquette is that you pay up the unexpired portion of that person’s contract, which is the way we have dealt with it when we approach another club. That’s the usual procedure in football.

“When you are dealing with people and their jobs – appointments you may or not make – it’s inappropriate to do it through the media.

“I am not happy with the way it has been handled but that is all part of the rough and tumble of football.”