Red and buried: Harry may lose out twice

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 by The Sun

Red and buried: Harry may lose out twice
UNCERTAIN FUTURE ... Harry Redknapp

HARRY REDKNAPP could be left in contract limbo by Spurs.

The Tottenham boss, snubbed by England, has suffered a second blow with the news the club are no longer in a rush for him to sign a new deal.

Redknapp has one year left on his current contract and talks are on hold until the summer at the earliest.

White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy had been keen to fend off England in February by sealing a new contract.

But Redknapp stalled because he was hot favourite to land the Three Lions job.

Now Roy Hodgson is set to take the England hotseat.

The FA are confident they will name their man today after holding four hours of talks with Hodgson in London yesterday.

It means Redknapp could go into the final year of his contract surrounded by uncertainty.

With Spurs fighting to remain in a Champions League place Levy is no longer hurrying to offer new terms.

But Redknapp holds no grudges and has called on Hodgson to convince England’s young stars that it means something special to play for their country.

The Tottenham gaffer said: “England football is very important for the country but I don’t know if it is as important any more to the players. That is the problem.

“People like Bobby Moore, when they were picked, would have walked there.

“I don’t know whether it is quite the same with the younger players now.

“I do think some of the old brigade, players like the Lampards, Terrys and Gerrards, they want to play all the time.

“But for some of the younger players it’s more about club than country, which is a shame.”

Redknapp reckons the amount of stick stars take from fans when they play for England could be a factor.

He added: “Maybe players feel some fear when they get nothing but grief when things don’t go well.

“It’s a shame because I think it is important to play for your country and for England to have a successful team.”

Redknapp also insists he is happy to carry on for as long as he can as a Premier League boss before he returns to his managerial roots.

He said: “Being a manager in the Premier League is fantastic. Going to Old Trafford, going to Anfield is great, I love it.

“Managing England must be fantastic as well with all those top players and the top tournaments.

“But I would enjoy being manager of somewhere like Poole Town in a few years’ time, going back to Bournemouth or wherever, I would still be enjoying it.

“That’s what I enjoy doing. Football is my life, I love football.

“There’s a million boys out there who would have loved the opportunities I have been given.

“I have been very lucky. Loads of lads from the lower divisions will never get the chances I’ve had.”