Pompey: 'We tried everything to keep Harry'

Portsmouth have expressed their disappointment at the departure of Harry Redknapp for Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs and Redknapp confirmed the move this morning.

In a statement on the club’s website, www.pompeyfc.co.uk, chief executive Peter Storrie said: “Harry is a great manager and we, of course, did not want him to leave. We tried everything we could to keep him at Portsmouth.

“However, he made it clear that although he has achieved great success here at Fratton Park, apparently Spurs is one of the only clubs he would consider leaving for.

“We have subsequently agreed a substantial compensation package with Spurs, although our overwhelming desire would have been to retain the manager.”

Redknapp had two spells in charge at Pompey, either side of a stint with rivals Southampton.

Storrie added: “On his return to Fratton Park, Harry performed a near miracle in keeping us in the top flight and we have since gone on to become an established top-10 side.

“Last season we won the FA Cup for the first time in nearly 70 years and qualified for European competition for the first time.

“The last thing I wanted was to see Harry leave this club but the lure of Spurs proved too much for him to turn down.”

Pompey owner Alexandre Gaydamak also expressed his disappointment at losing their manager.

Gaydamak said: “I am personally very disappointed that Harry has left. We did all we could to keep him and up until early evening Saturday I was under the impression that he would be staying as Portsmouth manager.”

Redknapp believes the south-coast club are in need of more investment to continue their development.

He said: “I think Sacha would like to sell if he could find a buyer. He has put fantastic money into the club and been very supportive, but the club needs a new stadium, a new training ground – it is very difficult to sustain a Premier League club with a stadium which only holds around 20,000 people, with no real corporate boxes or much hospitality.

“Portsmouth needs a new stadium and training ground, that is all very, very expensive. Whether in the long term, Sacha wants to stay and do that, only he would tell you. He has been good for the club, but whether he wants to keep going, I am not so sure.”