Redknapp criticises FA over delay
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has criticised the Football Association for allowing speculation about the England manager's job rumble on for almost three months.
Redknapp was installed as the overwhelming favourite to become England's next head coach in February after Fabio Capello resigned, but the FA this week appointed West Brom boss Roy Hodgson instead.
"It did drag on," Redknapp said. "I don't know why they didn't do it six weeks ago? What was the big problem? West Brom weren't going to go down."
The period between Capello's resignation and Hodgson's appointment was a tough one for Spurs.
They lost five league games and slipped out of the top four, as Redknapp had to deal with constant speculation that he was to be offered the position, and the club even wrote to the Premier League to request that other managers stop tipping him for the job.
Redknapp has always maintained his focus throughout has been on Tottenham, but he conceded that others at the club thought the speculation did have an impact.
He said: "I think (chairman Daniel Levy) thinks it might have done, (assistant manager) Kevin Bond thinks it could have had an effect."
Levy was reported to be ready to hand Redknapp a new contract to keep him out of England's clutches, but Hodgson's appointment, and Tottenham's recent slump, have dampened talk of an extension to his current deal, which expires next summer.
Hodgson's appointment has led to a bit of a backlash given that Redknapp was the people's choice for the post, but the Spurs boss wishes the former Fulham manager the best and admits he would have missed the day-to-day routine that comes with being a club coach if he had become England boss.
"I enjoy being with the players every day," Redknapp said. "It would have been a different way of life completely to anything I've ever done. I won't be bitter."
