Football
Reuters 18y

Soccer-Leaving Portsmouth was monumental mistake, says Redknapp

LONDON, Dec 4 - Former Portsmouth manager Harry
Redknapp says he made a "monumental mistake" in leaving the
Premier League club last season for arch-rivals Southampton.
Redknapp quit Southampton on Saturday after one year in
charge and is widely tipped to return to Portsmouth this week.

"The last year has been the worst of my life and that is no
exaggeration," the 58-year-old Redknapp told the Sunday Mirror.

"I made a monumental mistake walking out of Fratton Park and
a day hasn't passed since I left the ground for the last time
that I didn't regret my decision.

"Events this season have simply increased my desire to get
away and once Portsmouth asked permission to speak to me this
week I knew I had to go back."

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe is planning to ask
Portsmouth for compensation if Redknapp does return to the club.

"When a club takes another's manager they should pay up the
unexpired portion of the contract," Lowe told BBC Radio Five.

"I'm not happy with the way it has been handled but that is
football."

Redknapp left Southampton after being refused permission to
speak to Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, who fired Frenchman
Alain Perrin as coach last week.

Redknapp said he was unhappy with the managerial structure
at Southampton where England rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive
Woodward is director of football.

"As a bloke I got on with him but I have to say the decision
to bring him in was bizarre," Redknapp said.

"The relationship between me and Clive was never going to
work because there were too many people undermining the
structure Rupert Lowe wanted at the club."

Woodward told the BBC he was not expecting to take the reins
at Southampton.

"I don't think I am ready for the manager's job," he said.
"It's just too early. At the moment my gut feeling would be that
I wouldn't accept the manager's job if it were offered to me."

Portsmouth lie 18th in the 20-team Premier League standings
after losing 3-0 at Manchester United on Saturday. Southampton,
relegated under Redknapp last season, are 12th in the second
division after a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley.

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