Redknapp: 'Keegan only telling the truth'

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has given his full backing to Kevin Keegan’s remarks about the Premier League’s four-horse race becoming boring.

Keegan’s outburst and his opinion that clubs like his are nowhere near strong enough to break up the dominant cartel have landed the Newcastle boss in hot water with his chairman Mike Ashley.

But Redknapp, whose side will finish between sixth and ninth in the table depending on the results of Sunday’s final round of matches, insisted: “Kevin is spot on.

“Every year the top four is the (same) top four. Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are on another level. He’s only telling the truth.

“Why shouldn’t he? You can only fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the time. He has only come out and said what is a fact, and that is what I’ve been saying for about four years now.

“The top four are the top four because they have the most money and the best players and, while that exists, you are not going to get near them.

“If people want to listen to a lot of rubbish then that is up to them but it is only a dream really and it is not going to happen.”

However, Redknapp did add: “The only possible chance of anybody breaking into that top four next season is Tottenham.

“With the squad they’ve got they have massively underachieved this time but anybody else has got to spend £100m plus to change it.

“It depends on what you have now if you are asking how much you would have to spend to really challenge them. It can be done, as Jack Walker showed at Blackburn a few years ago. But it didn’t last long.

“Eventually, perhaps, you can see 20 billionaires owning the 20 Premier League clubs – most of them American, Russian or Thai maybe.

“And every one of them will want to win and spend massive money, but 16 of them are going to be disappointed and managers will be getting the sack every other week.”

Redknapp at least has broken the famous four’s grip on the FA Cup.

Speaking ahead of the Wembley final with Cardiff he said: “One of the top four has won that as well for the past 12 years and, yes, I think most neutrals think it has become boring.

“This time the fans will see somebody different winning it and hopefully it will be us.”

Cardiff have reached the final for first time since 1927 and Redknapp’s team for the first time since 1939.

But Portsmouth’s Wembley build-up has been hit by injuries to England goalkeeper David James and skipper Sol Campbell who both look certain to miss Sunday’s clash with Fulham which will decide the London team’s fate.

James has already missed the last two games – defeats to Blackburn and Middlesbrough – with a damaged calf muscle while Campbell is suffering from tight hamstrings.

James had a scan on Wednesday which showed his injury had healed but Redknapp said: “He’s not fit to play yet and we are going to have to watch him very carefully next week if he’s to play in the final.

“And I’m not going to take any risks with Sol. He should be okay for the final but if he tells me he’s not feeling 100% on Sunday he won’t play against Fulham.”

Redknapp, though, has pledged to field his strongest available side against the Cottagers, which could include former Fulham players Papa Bouba Diop and Sean Davis, and said: “It’s not about doing people favours in this game. I don’t think it happens.

“I feel sorry for Roy Hodgson (Fulham’s manager) because it is no fun down there fighting against relegation, although at least they have it in their own hands now.

“I suppose I could do myself a favour and rest 10 players before the final and not risk any more getting injured but I feel obliged to give it a go.”