Redknapp rules out Chelsea move

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Spurs manager Redknapp is highly touted for the England coaching job. AFP photo

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp yesterday ruled himself out of the running to succeed sacked Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Villas-Boas was sacked on Sunday, a day after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. The loss was the latest in a string of league defeats that has left Chelsea off the pace in the race for a Champions League spot next season.

Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez are among the favourites to succeed the 34-year-old Portuguese, though Redknapp has also been linked with the job.

But Redknapp, who is tipped to become the next England manager, admits that while the post at Stamford Bridge is an attractive one, he is not interested in a move to Tottenham’s cross city rivals.
“It would be difficult. I wouldn’t be able to come back to north London,” he said. “So no, I will pass on that one.”

Redknapp said he was sad to see Villas-Boas lose his job after just eight months, but conceded that Abramovich has every right to make a change.

“He owns it, he pays massive wages to the managers and if he doesn’t get the success he wants then he is in a position where he is not going to sit back and do nothing,” he added. “Those are the rules you have to work under.”