Redknapp given freedom of Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp will today be granted the freedom of the city of Portsmouth - the home of the club he quit only three days ago.

The 61-year-old left Pompey late on Saturday to take up his new post at Tottenham.

Along with the players of his former club, Redknapp will be honoured by Portsmouth City Council today for their success in winning the FA Cup by beating Cardiff 1-0 at Wembley in May.

The council decided to go ahead with the honour for Redknapp despite his departure from the city.

However, the local authority is still deciding whether one of the bells that play the famous Pompey Chimes at the city’s Guildhall, which are currently being refurbished, should be named after him.

Redknapp yesterday confirmed he would still be attending the ceremony.

He told Sky Sports News: “I am proud they have given me that and I wouldn’t not take it. It was given to me for what I did at Portsmouth, for winning the cup and what I did at the club, so why shouldn’t I go back there?

“I think they want me to go and do it and I am very proud to.”

He added: “It is a great privilege to be given the freedom of the city. On behalf of myself and all the players, I would like to thank the people of Portsmouth for their amazing support during last year’s FA Cup campaign and for bestowing this honour on us.”

During the ceremony at the Guildhall, a procession carrying the FA Cup, escorted by a Royal Navy Guard, will be accompanied by music from the Royal Navy Guard and Royal Marines Band Portsmouth.

They will be joined by a guard of honour consisting of 12 Portsmouth mascots.

Council chief executive David Williams will present scrolls to Redknapp and centre-back Sol Campbell on behalf of the rest of the FA Cup-winning squad.

Council leader Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: “Pompey winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1939 was a fantastic achievement. This special ceremony lets the whole city honour that triumph.”

He added: “I’m incredibly disappointed that he (Redknapp) is going because he’s done so much but that doesn’t take away his achievements.

“I’m absolutely gutted and it will be a very different ceremony, it will be a ceremony about disappointment rather than joy.”