Redknapp ready to begin relegation battle

Harry Redknapp pulled no punches about the severity of Portsmouth’s plight as he prepares for the Barclays Premiership game at Tottenham.

Redknapp will take charge of the team for the first time in his second spell in charge at Fratton Park just a year after walking out and joining rivals Southampton.

However, the 58-year-old will embark on the visit to north London with Pompey second from bottom and with just two wins all season.

He said: “I have to be realistic. We are six points away from safety in the bottom two and I’ve come back to try to keep us up. It makes me sound as if I’m mad to come back but I can’t give you a better answer.”

Redknapp insists he is motivated by the desire to ensure Milan Mandaric remains at Fratton Park, claiming the chairman’s presence is vital to the club’s very future.

“All I want is to make us safe so that the chairman Milan Mandaric never walks away. I know I went but if he goes, the club goes,” he said.

“And now that we’ve made up and become mates again he’s regained a lot of his zest.”

Mandaric confirmed there would be money to spend in the transfer window - provided there are signs of improvement.

He told Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “Harry will have money, but if he doesn’t get enough points in the next five games then it will be difficult for us and we won’t be throwing good money after bad.

“If we are still there then of course we’ll have the money to enhance our team to give us a better chance of staying up.”

Although the make-up of the side has changed significantly since he walked out, Redknapp insists he will pick the team based on training sessions since he took over again on Thursday.

And it looks certain only Salif Diao, Laurent Robert, Andy O’Brien and Brian Priske of the 12 signed by previous manager Alain Perrin will survive in Redknapp’s initial starting line-up – which will be strong on players he brought to the club in his previous reign.

He has recalled Cameroon striker Vincent Pericard two weeks early from a loan spell at Sheffield United and he will go straight into the team alongside Lomana LuaLua up front.

Robert will either start on the left of midfield or feature as a substitute but England Under-21 captain Gary O’Neil, who rarely made the line-up during Redknapp’s first spell, is set to be switched from the right to centre.

Redknapp will come across some of his former protégés from his days at West Ham when he travels to White Hart Lane.

Michael Carrick is on top form in midfield for Spurs, while would-be England marksman Jermain Defoe has a point to prove after being left on the bench for the last three games by White Hart Lane boss Martin Jol.