Redknapp: Spurs would have booted me out even if we had reached Champions League

Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham would still have shown him the door even if he had managed to steer the north London club into the Champions League.
The 65-year-old, who has vowed to take another job after being sacked by Spurs on Wednesday night, says his future at the club has already been decided.
Tottenham finished fourth but were foiled in the European ambitions by Chelsea's stunning defeat of Bayern Munich in the 2011-12 final.

Kicked out: Harry Redknapp speaking on Thursday morning after his 3.30am sacking by Tottenham

'We finished fourth and were unlucky at the end, but I think the same outcome would have happened,' Redknapp told BBC Radio Five Live.
'Even if we had finished fourth, the chairman would have gone down the same road. But that is football.
'I had four great years at Spurs. All you can do is leave the club in a better state than you found it and I did that, for sure.'
Redknapp is determined to secure a new managerial position, despite the sacking.
'I feel great, I am ready. Football keeps me going, that is what I will miss. But I am not one for sitting at home,' Redknapp explained.
'I'm not coming to the end, I feel fit as a fiddle.'
Where a new role would emerge remains to be seen. The only vacant post in the Premier League right now is at Swansea and it is unlikely Redknapp would be tempted by the role.
Should David Moyes be offered the Tottenham job, Redknapp may emerge as a contender for a unique swap.
However, he may feel it is the right time to take a lucrative post abroad - particularly in the Middle East.
The are a number of rich sides in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that would be interested in offering Redknapp a job.

Crushed: Tottenham were destroyed by Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final

Redknapp explained his sacking was not finance related, instead it was based on the club's desire for a change.
'It was nothing to do with contracts or me asking for anything extra at all,' he said.
'The club just decided they wanted to have a change. They own the club, they can do what they want, so that is OK.'
He added: 'I kept my counsel about that all through. It had no effect, it was just a decision the chairman decided he wanted to make. That is their right to do that.'
On his departure from White Hart Lane, Redknapp said: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements.

‘I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking.

Revolving door: Who's next in for White Hart Lane?

‘I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there.’
Redknapp was pleased to leave the fans with some happy memories from his tenure, even if he did not pick up any silverware.
'People who support Tottenham had lots to smile about, they were proud and that was important to me. I will never forget the fans,' insisted the sacked manager.
Chairman Daniel Levy said: ‘This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly. Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed.
‘This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution. Harry will always be welcome at the Lane.’

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Spurs confirm Redknapp exit

Harry Redknapp is to leave his post as Tottenham manager, the club announced on Thursday morning.

Redknapp and agent Paul Stretford spent Wednesday in negotiations with chairman Daniel Levy and it became clear the former Portsmouth boss was close to ending his three-and-a-half-year tenure at White Hart Lane.

The 65-year-old had 12 months left on his contract and is understood to have been unhappy with Levy's failure to offer him a new three-year deal.

Levy told the Spurs website: "This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly.

"Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed.

"This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution.

"Harry will always be welcome at the Lane."

Redknapp added: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements.

"I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking.

"I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there."

Everton boss David Moyes was the odds-on favourite to replace Redknapp, whose failure to secure Champions League football looks to have led to his impending departure.

Only on Tuesday Redknapp was moved to dismiss speculation he was on his way out as "an outrage".

Negotiations over a new deal for Redknapp have stalled since the start of the year when Redknapp, who guided Spurs to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League last season, was linked with the then vacant England manager's job.

In the past week Redknapp has made it known he would be uncomfortable heading into the new season without a longer deal while also defending his relationship with Levy.

It has been claimed, however, that Levy was only willing to offer Redknapp a rolling 12-month contract whereas the former Portsmouth manager is thought to have wanted a longer deal that would have made the London club his last job in management.

Redknapp did achieve Levy's goal of reaching the top four last term, but Spurs missed out on playing in the Champions League after Chelsea's penalty shootout win over Bayern Munich last month's final.

An exit may seem harsh on Redknapp but his critics point to the fact his team would have qualified directly for Europe's premier club competition had they not thrown away a 10-point lead over Arsenal towards the end of the season after a poor run of form.

On Tuesday Redknapp vehemently denied he was on his way out, though, telling ESPN: "No, I haven't resigned, and I have no idea why it is being suggested that I have resigned.

"This is an outrage; an absolute liberty for people to be putting around this kind of rumour on the internet.

"It is not true, there is not a chance I will resign. Why should I?"

The news was met with disbelief by former Spurs defender John Scales.

"I am staggered that a manager who took the club to fourth, fifth and fourth again has gone," he told The Sun.

"Even though we lost out to Chelsea at the end, it has been another fantastic season.

"We'd done ever so well and I'm bewildered by the decision."

Redknapp took charge of Tottenham in October 2008 following the sacking of Juande Ramos, with the club having taken just two points from their first eight games.

Redknapp led them to an eighth-place finish and an appearance in the League Cup final, which they lost to Manchester United.

In his first full season in charge, he guided Spurs to fourth position taking them into the Champions League for the first time.

Spurs played some exhilarating football on their way to the quarter-finals, before being knocked out by Real Madrid.

Since then Redknapp has twice failed to secure Champions League football at White Hart Lane, albeit with a touch of misfortune this season as Chelsea snatched the last available place away from them with their win over Bayern.

That capped a dramatic season for Redknapp, who underwent a heart procedure in November, was cleared of tax evasion in February and missed out on the England job in May.

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REDKNAPP REJECTS EXIT RUMOURS

Harry Redknapp has denied speculation that he has resigned as Tottenham boss, describing the rumours as "scandalous".

Redknapp was moved to discredit a wave of speculation on Tuesday evening in which it was claimed he had quit with a year still to run on his Spurs contract.

Negotiations over a new deal have stalled since the start of the year when the 65-year-old was linked with the then vacant England manager's job.

In the past week Redknapp has made it known he would be uncomfortable heading into the new season without a longer deal while also defending his relationship with chairman Daniel Levy.

And the former Portsmouth boss was again forced on the back foot this evening as he denied more exit rumours, telling ESPN: "No, I haven't resigned, and I have no idea why it is being suggested that I have resigned.

"This is an outrage; an absolute liberty for people to be putting around this kind of rumour on the internet.

"It is not true, there is not a chance I will resign. Why should I? "I have a year left on my contract."

Earlier this week Redknapp denied suggestions he was being courted by a club in Qatar after telling Tottenham to speed up negotiations to keep him at White hart Lane.

"The simple situation is, I've got a year left on my contract. It's up to Tottenham whether they want to extend that contract or not," he said.

"If they don't extend it and I go into my last year, it's not an easy one when players know you've only got a year left.

"It's not a case of me looking for security. What it's about is players knowing you've only got one year left on your contract and knowing that it doesn't work, basically.

"I think it's a situation of, 'well, he might not be here next year'.

"You don't let players run into the last year of their contract if you think they're any good, and you don't let managers run into the last year of their contract if you think they're any good.

"It's up to Tottenham. If they think I'm okay and I've done a decent job and deserve an extension, they'll give it to me.

"If Daniel doesn't think I'm worth it, that's up to him, that's up to the club. There's nothing I can do about it."

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