Redknapp bites the Tottenham worm

Harry Redknapp has agreed to join Tottenham Hotsphur as their new manager after the London club sacked Juande Ramos yesterday evening. Redknapp who has also managed at Bournemouth and Southampton has been seeking a big time job for some years now and after putting off a number of offers in recently, has finally given in and taken over the mantle at Spurs.

For Redknapp personally he deserves the step up. He has overachieved massively with Portsmouth getting them promoted from Division 1 and consolidating them as a regular Premeirship side, devoid of relegation scraps and as of last season competing for European Qualification. Last season’s FA Cup win was the reward he deserved after all his hard work at the club.

Last season he was linked with the vacant position at Newcastle United and bookmakers even started playing out on Redknapp becoming the next manager at St. James’ Park. However a u-turn by Redknapp allowed Kevin Keegan to return to the club. Redknapp showed surprising loyalty to a club after a series of walk outs by managers.

The refreshing loyalty shown by Redknapp gave us all hope that at least some of our heroes do have a conscience under there somewhere.

Redknapp somewhere along the way has had a change of thought and I think it centers around what has happened at the club over the last eight clubs, since he was offered the job at Newcastle.

He had the success at bringing European football in Fratton Park and a Premiership best finish of eighth. However the uncertainty over the clubs future under owner Alexander Gaydamak might have led Redknapp to believe it was the right time to go.

On the pitch, predictably things hadn’t going to plan after last season’s brilliant start. They found themselves at one point bottom of the League with no-win from their opening three games. Since results have picked up, getting through to the group stage of UEFA cup is a brilliant achievement in itself.

Heavy defeats at Chelsea and Manchester City wouldn’t have helped and after setting such high standards last season maybe Redknapp had done all he could.?

As with any job if a promotion comes along, you want to take it no-matter what anyone else wants. After all this is a carer and more importantly a new challenge for Redknapp. He deserves the opportunity to show he isn’t just an overachiever at a small club, that he can mix it with the big boys as well.

If Portsmouth fans truly love Redknapp like they profess then they will let him go quietly. Disappointed they will be, but dejected they should not, their team is hardly struggling Redknapp has earned his chance lets see whether this is a step up to far.