Cockney accent the reason behind bung claims, says Redknapp

Harry Redknapp said he was “sick and tired” of bung slurs and claimed he was victimised because of his Cockney accent, a court heard yesterday.

The Tottenham manager also told football corruption investigators: “If there is any mud to be thrown, I seem to get on the end of it, for whatever reason.”

Redknapp said there was “nothing on me in this world” as he voluntarily revealed details about his Monaco bank account during the Quest Premier League bung inquiry in 2006, jurors were told.

He told accountant Nigel Layton: “I don’t care who looks,” as Portsmouth’s finances were examined by the investigation led by former Metropolitan Police commissioner John Stevens in 2006.

Redknapp, originally from Poplar, east London, said: “A friend said to me: ‘Harry, I can’t believe it’s always you, I have dealt with you enough times. Your problem is your name, Harry, and you have got a Cockney accent.’

“People don’t know me and I am sick and tired of it. There ain’t nobody who is more of a fan… My son has been a top footballer.”

The conversation took place between Layton, managing director of Quest, and Redknapp in Nov 2006.

The extracts were read out in court after prosecutors said excuses offered by Redknapp and co-defendant Milan Mandaric for the £189,000 (€226,000) bung were “contradictory, inconsistent and lack credibility”.

Jurors also listened to a tape recording of a phone call between Redknapp and Mandaric as the manager attempted to convince the News of the World “everything I do, I do above board”.

Reporter Rob Beasley told jurors he used “flattery, friendship… and a little bit of kidology” with Redknapp and Mandaric as he investigated in 2009.

Jurors were asked earlier to consider how the Tottenham manager “simply laughed” when questioned about the Monaco “bung”.

Prosecutor John Black completed his opening speech by pointing out how Redknapp’s story differed from Mandaric’s.

“Those explanations, the Crown say, are contradictory, inconsistent and lack credibility.”

Jurors were asked to consider, “is it credible that Mr Redknapp remained blissfully unaware” of the deposits in the account named after his pet dog, Rosie.

Redknapp, 64, of Poole, Dorset, and Serbian-born Mandaric, of Oadby, Leicestershire, both deny two counts of cheating the public revenue when Redknapp was manager of Portsmouth Football Club.