Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
by Jack Howes
Yesterday Harry Redknapp had one of his usual interviews with Sky Sports News. He does these chummy interviews with Talksport or Sky Sports News more than almost any other manager and this willingness to chat to the media has undoubtedly helped him personally become popular with the journalists and pundits who monopolise the coverage of football in the UK.
Fans are often irritated by his habit of blabbing about transfer targets when it would be better to keep quiet. But yesterday his comments were less about transfers and more about his own personal contract situation, and the timing and tone of his comments were scandalous.
The comments I as a lifelong Spurs fan had most trouble with were “You don’t let players run into the last year of their contract if you think they are any good and you don’t let managers run into the last year of their contract if you think they are any good. That is the situation so it is up to the club.”
Now these comments are bad enough. A highly paid employee using the press to implore his own chairman to give him a new contract is unacceptable. That stuff should be kept in-house and should not be aired publicly. Talking in the press about such things breeds uncertainty in the players, in the fans and doesn’t create a positive atmosphere around the club. Contract negotiations being dealt with in the newspapers is no way to run a football club.
What makes these comments so poorly timed is the fact that Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham Hotspur and the man who runs the finances and negotiates all the contracts and transfers is in America currently due to his mother tragically passing away. For Harry to be talking in the press about a new contract for himself when his boss, the person who decides whether to give him a new contract is in another part of the world grieving over a deceased parent is a shocking thing to do.
Now Harry may not have known Daniel Levy’s exact circumstances, though I highly doubt he was completely unaware of what was going on. But to make these damaging comments (and Harry did specifically say “It is up to the chairman. If he doesn’t want to give me another contract, it is his decision”) at this particular juncture is at best crass and careless, and at worst the words of a completely insensitive scoundrel obsessed only with his future and not bothered by the damage he is inflicting on both the club who employ him and his boss who is currently in a state of mourning and perhaps not in a position to defend his interests.
The timing sticks in the craw, because Harry could have made these comments at any time. He makes these comments not at a time when they would have received less attention and when Levy was in a position to deal with his complaints, but at a time when Levy is out of action and mourning the death of a loved one. Also a month ago he said “I don’t go running to him (the chairman) for a new contract”. His comments definitely have the feel of running to the chairman for a new deal.
He also makes these comments when transfer dealings and contract negotiations are in full swing. How for example does Jan Vertonghen feel reading in the British press that the manager of the club he’s set to sign for might be about to have a change of manager? Not to mention the players who have only 12 months left on their contracts as well who hearing this may well have their agents rushing to Levy wanting contract extensions and money.
He also says about rumours of him perhaps going to manage some oil-rich club in Qatar “No. I don’t speak to anybody else, it’s not my job. I am under contract at Tottenham. I keep seeing something about Qatar but I’ve never been to Qatar in my life.” This I presume is true. But he doesn’t mention there how last year he said he almost went to Dubai club Al-Ahli FC and that he said the Chelsea job would be ‘a dream job’ last month.
What adds a further bitter taste is the fact that Redknapp has brought in agent Paul Stretford to represent him in contract negotiations. Stretford is Wayne Rooney’s agent and the person who is believed to have advised him to hand in a transfer request to Man Unuted last year. He is a controversial figure who according to Andy Cole (a player he used to represent and was friends with) ‘wasn’t motivated by friendship but money’.
Nothing unusual there, football agents are not renowned for their altruism and philanthropy, but there is Stretford’s repeated dealings in court to consider. He admitted in 2010 when he first had Rooney as a client he didn’t explain to Rooney and his father what documents they were signing and what effect signing would have. The prosecuting barrister called this ‘absolutely extraordinary’.
Stretford has also been banned from football by the FA for 18 months (9 months suspended) for misconduct and amongst other things making false/misleading statements to police and in court proceedings. He’s been sacked by his former employer Proactive Sports Management for ‘gross misconduct’ and in the words of Sir Alex Ferguson is “Not the most popular man in the world – certainly at our club”. Not the sort of figure a fan wants to see loitering around your club.
There are other things Redknapp said that I have problems with. He said “Things couldn’t have gone better since I’ve been there” which is nonsense. Spurs have just finished 4th and due to Chelsea’s subsequent victory in the Champions League final missed out on Champions League football.
This is after we were two points off the top of the table in mid-January and were 10 points clear of 4th place in mid-February. 3rd place was the least we could expect from that position and to then say after a collapse to finish 4th ‘things couldn’t have gone better’ is simply insulting to fans of the club. Also this is completely hypocritical given his comments about Spurs ‘going for the title’ and ‘being the top London club’ throughout the season.
His comments about how Champions League football is overrated in its ability to entice players to clubs is what appears to have grabbed the headlines. On this he has a point. See how Man City signed the likes of David Silva and Vincent Kompany without Champions League, or even how Atletico Madrid kept hold of Aguero for so long and promptly signed Radamel Falcao as a replacement without Champions League football. Spurs supposedly being close to signing Vertonghen and Loic Remy illustrates the point further.
But it’s his association with Stretford, an agent previously banned by the FA for misconduct and the sheer insensitivity of his comments virtually demanding a new contract that anger me. He’s guilty of at best being careless and insensitive, at worst guilty of rank insubordination, greed and selfishness. Redknapp has a lot to answer for, and hopefully an apology to Daniel Levy is on its way.
Condolences to Daniel Levy and his family for the loss of his mother.
Harry Redknapp quotes:
https://twitter.com/ReviewFootball/status/210094494031417345/photo/1
Greedy little f*cker should have agreed to the deal back when he was being lead up the garden path for the England job, he could have asked for a clause to cover the FA’s apparent interest in him at the time, and he would have the 3 years he was looking for, I can’t see the point in rewarding his attitude with anything other than a single year extension with clauses covering his performance as manager and a clear policy on squad rotation!
I hundred per cent agree with your assessment in this article.The more I think about Redschnapps the more I seem to dislike him.He appears to be selfish to the extreme and is only self serving and never accepts any blame for his own shortcomings.This media myth that he is some loveable cockney rogue is ridiculous,when has he ever said anything that’s remotely funny or amusing?
Whatever the circumstances we never achieved third place when we were in a prime position to do so,that is as much his fault as anyone else.He continually contradicts himself with his ridiculous soundbites and Levy like many Spurs fans seems to have seen right through him,lastly what he has said in the past about Spurs fans is truly scandalous and for that he should be taken to task,and not conveniently forgotten.
Very well written piece which it is hard to disagree with. It feels like Harry seeting up hiss retirement plan – engineer a move to chelski where he will be sacked within a year with a huge payout. Then move in to his TV pundit role that he so desires…..
To be honest, I’d be quite happy to get shot of him now and would happily take several years of rebuilding with a young hungry manager.
I have been a Spurs fan for nearly 50 years. I used to distrust Terry when he managed us 20 years ago, but Harry is by far the most disgraveful manager, not just for Spurs, that I have ever come accross. The above article is spot on. I believe I could add several mor paragraphs to add weight to the authors points. I wont as I am not half as articulate and would have most of my words edited / deleted.
Completely agree with you. I no longer have any lingering doubts that I may be too harsh on him considering our finishing position in the last few seasons. With the squad we have, it wasn’t a remarkable achievement.
What grates more than anything is the clear emphasis on Harry first and everything else, including Spurs, second. We dropped to fourth because his head was turned. He is a chancer and hopefully he can try his luck somewhere else next season.
Kind of half started out ok and then degenerated into the same old, same old. Same tired stuff (again) in an initially slightly different guise. Funny, I knew it was going that way from the off. I think enough people have said these things now and still it’s trotted out.
For my part I would have at least bothered to point out that players have a residual value with a year left, whereas managers don’t.
Is DL’s mother fact? I understand it’s a major topic of conversation on Twitter – that bastion of all that is true and good.
Very nicely put together piece and quite damming of Harry really. Probably the most supportive thing I could say towards Harry is that all of these actions clumsy and poorly timed.
Problem with that however in today’s World of player power, sponsors and the need for Clubs to succeed is that there really is no place for being clumsy.
I dont know that I want him out as who knows what we would get in return but I can well respect Levy’s position in only offering a rolling contract. Appreciate players want to see their manager on a longer term deal but the manager has to respect what comes with that responsibility. Pub football this aint.
Completely agree. Hopefully this will galvanise Levy to move on from Redknapp. Most Spurs fans on most sites are now heartily sick of him
All this spurs have never been better and I saved them from relegation is rubbish with 8 games gone in a season and a bad start please we had a worse run under harry! Look how we finished in last 6 years – Tottenham 5th 11th 8th 4th 5th 4th no big improvement since martin jol. ramos never even had a whole season so can’t count his period but he still won a trophy time to get this using swine out of of our club get rid of harry i’m feed up of his crap!!!!
If Chelsea did not win the Champions League, and it was in fact us entering the competition next season… then i am pretty sure you will also be frustrated that Harry has yet to be offered a new contract.
I am not sure if some of the supporters realise how good the last few seasons have been in terms of the way we play and league positions. Its been over 20 years since we have had a finish higher than 4th.
not much left to be said about redcrapp except get lost better off with out u callous sod
Just about sums up Redknapp’s attitude in a nutshell: crass, out of order and unprofessional. This combined with the failure to beat Arsenal to third place means he should leave now. Couldn’t give a stuff what VDV, Walker, Bale or Modric think, he needs to be shown the exit door. We need to bring in either AVB or Guardiola if we are to mount a fair title challenge next season. Also for those that read this, have a look at Andre Schlurre and spread some good word about him. And if Adrien Bloomfield reads this – then sign him up!
Fair enough comments from Harry, this contract situation could have been resolved before now and lets be fair Levy loves to draw out negotiations to try and get a deal that suits him and he’s not afraid to use the press for his own ends.
If you look at Harry’s comments about CL there’s really nothing contentious, what would you want him to do argue it’s reasonable for players too ask for a transfer because we didn’t make CL
I have every sympathy for Daniel Levy at the moment with the sad bereavement and can understand that he has personal matters that need to take priority now and indeed he needs time to come to terms with, but once he has had that bit of time then sorting out a new contract for Harry is his biggest priority as as Harry says failing to address matters will cause disruption and unrest
i wholeheartedly agree with this comment. i believe tottenham would be far better off with a new more clued up manager.
Yeah? Go on then Keith Lewer. Name names and I don’t mean Mourinho,or anybody else who we have no chance of getting.
Seriously .People like yourself are quick to shout “out with Harry ” but you have no solutions.
i would in my opinion have avb or bergkamp or moyes over redknapp any day.
Moyes? Im an Evertonian and I dont want him.
Pompei Harry Redschnapps at work. Levy should sign a bigger name and a better manager than HR (not so difficult to find) as soon as possible and sack him to avoid more damage. Ok, this is exactly what HR wants, but it’s the only solution.
Every spurs fan is against him now I think thats final.
I dont care that the press will jump on the sinking ship route as soon as HR leaves, how apparently a mass exodus will follow and how Redknapp is the best manager in the world.
He is tactically inept, has won only one cup in 30 odd years of management (less than Di Matteo who won 2 cups in 6 months with a weaker squad than Spurs)
Just get rid of him now, he has taken us as far as he could
Redknapp says what he wants, when he wants with little thought given to the words falling from his mouth. It’s strange that someone in such a high profile job can be allowed to make so many contradicting comments about himself, his team, competitions, fans etc. I say allowed, because you’d think someone out there would be giving him pointers on what to/not say at certain times??? I mean, who on earth slags off a formation and tells the whole world it’s flaws only to then send his team out playing it? And then uses the really strange excuse of (not a quote, but along the lines of) “I told you so?” If he knew it wouldn’t work, why on earth did he use it?
Then, 3 months ago he claimed the players didn’t care if he walked away or was sacked and that they would play for whoever was in charge at any given time. But, yesterday, he insinuated that some players would not give 100% (if they knew he only had a year to go) and that some may even look to move.
So what’s changed in 3 months?
Nothing much, except Redknapp is NOT the England manager and his contract is now running out. He is fighting to keep his job after taking his eye off the ball mid-season, and deep down he knows it.
Credit where credit’s due though. He has done a very good job since he’s been at the club – not that he’d want anyone to know 😉
“Credit where credit’s due though. He has done a very good job since he’s been at the club – not that he’d want anyone to know ;)”
Exactly….and thats the bottom line.
And in the meantime,while you lot say its scandolous and the rest,if he is shown the door,what is plan B all you clever donuts?.Harry is Harry.He’s the same now as he was when he took over,and as he’s always been.Like him or not,he’s done good things for this club.Who are we going to get.Martinez,Chris Hughton? Get real and stop moaning .Spurs fans are NEVER satisfied.NOBODY is perfect,least of all Harry but he gets the job done.Yeah his head was turned by the England job .Every single day in every single paper,on every bleeding radio station it was Harry ,Harry ,HArry Harry.YOu think he;s a super human and immune to all that? Get real all of you.What manager wouldn’t get a bit distracted by a drawn out stupid media campaign that still goes on to this day.Idiots going on the radio saying Harry should have been made England manager.Well he wasn’t ..get over it.
All I know is not too long ago all of WHL was chanting for HArry to stay,now you fickle lot are screaming for him to go.
Just remember one thing,and that is if he goes, what will go with him will be the progress Tottenham Hotspur have made in the years since he took charge.
So if anyone has a solid plan B, that will take us to the next level,then lets hear it.If not..ZIP IT
I’m with you here. I don’t want him to go as he’s done well for us and unless Levy is going to pull a truly great manager from his hat I can’t see the real benefit in making a change. I’ve seen some crap take to the White Hart Lane turf over the years but now, finally, I feel like we’re going to win the majority of matches at home. I just wish he’d rotate a little more, work on a second strategy for when things don’t quite go to plan and, more than anything, I wish he’d keep his mouth shut from time to time.
Look mate you need to understand that harry has A WORLD CLASS SQUAD and my grandmother could of saved us when he took over I didnt want him then and i dont want him now!!! The england fiasco was his fault he could of publicly come out and said No im not looking past tottenham and shut his mouth But nope didnt do that…… He slates the clubs fans for being fans …… i have been behind every manager and every player who wheres the shirt but redknapp is not a good football manager His record tells you that Bournemouth pompey west spam southampton …… over the past 3 years if we had a decent football manager we would be there or there abouts still i dont get the love for redknapp ……..jol got us 1 point behind 4th with a worse team the squad we have is amazing…. so as long as we keep 95% of the squad bring in any experienced manager who can stay with us for the long haul COYS !!!!
No employee should speak like that about their employer in public. I would think it is a sacking offence and wouldnt be surprised to see him go.
He has too much to say about everything in public except how he managed to cock things up at the end of the season
Sackable offence? Pretty right wing and harsh. You don’t get rid of an asset unless you have a greater asset to replace with
Point 2 is that Levy is not a shrinking violet.He’s a grown man.Grown men ususally speak eyeball to eyeball,so If he’s been displeased with Harry talking too much,there are ways to make your displeasure known in an honest way.Not like Levy didn;t know what he was getting when he hired him.
Harrys thing is that he talks too much.Mourinhos thing is that hes arrogant and inflexable.Dalgliesh ,Guardiola,name who you like.All flawed in one way or another
Let me know when you find the perfect human being to manage.Better yet,let Levy know.
This is spot on. Harry likes us all to believe he’s a simple uneducated East End lad, an innocent in a sea full of sharks,but his latest comments are the most cynical attempt to put pressure on Daniel Levy.
Levy should not fall for it and despite what he said, the uncertainty about the England job was a major factor in the catastrophic drop in form. If he had been offered the England job he would have been off without a backward glance. Perhaps the F.A.were more clued up than we thought?
well, i can see both sides to the coin here, Harry is a great manager, he does get the players to work for him and he does have alot of respect, he has done something new and better at spurs since he took over, the other part is, he doesent take responsibility, he does talk alot out publically and we should have finished higher than what we did, the last bit of the season just gone was heartbreaking, humilitating and horrible for the club, and the fans, but sacking harry isnt going to change anything,AVB is a good manager yes but we deserve the best, come on guys we should give harry another chance and see and if its no change next season then yes we need to change our management, his timing is always awful always has been always will be thats harry, but lets not forget what he has done for the club.. C.O.Y.S
AVB is a good manager?? Chelseas season was headed south and sinking fast until he left.The guy doesn’t belong managing in this country.
I think he will get a new contract eventually, but he’s not helping himself here. Nick Barmby at Hull was sacked for less. He wouldn’t be anywhere this level if Levy hadn’t brought him into the club, and he’s had plenty of backing to buy the players he wants. The fact that he says the uncertainty over him would affect the players after saying last season that the England speculation wouldn’t bother them is laughable.
I was on the fence over Redknapp until this interview. He says how fantastic it was to finish 4th and how we couldnt do better than that. Sorry….but has anybody heard Wenger or Fergie or Mancini say anything like that – HAPPY at being 4th? Not with the team we have (although the team is a lot stronger than the squad – but who let good squad players like Pienaar and Krancjar get isolated). Harry has a small-team mentality and that doesnt fit with what we should be aiming for. His recent transfer dealings have been inept and he got distracted during the England job period so we lost a chance to challenge for the title and ended up narrowly getting 4th – and we knew we had to finish 3rd to be sure. Its why we played for a draw at Villa when a win would have seen us safe – small-team mentality. Sorry Harry and thanks – you have done some great stuff and used players who played some great football (smetimes despite your tactics rather than because of them) BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. You’re happy with 4th/5th place – we’re not.