The article is predisposed to the assumption that Harry is in some way different to any other manager/footballer/coach or any individual in any job in the world. Would the writer be surprised if any of the other managers in the lower reaches of the EPL were to be interested in a job further up the food chain? Is it only Harry Redknapp that might be interested is a 'better' position should the opportunity arise (and by better I mean with a more prestigious club)? In football, by default, the better your results - the more you are 'in the shop window'. If Harry keeps us up, he is under contract (breakable yes), but as someone commented above, where would he go? West Ham is the obvious choice, with his history at the club and the fact that it would bring him full circle back to the club that sacked him (a vindication of sorts). But to do that he would have to be acceptable to the 2 David's who have now stabilised the club and have a similar 'seven year plan' for Champions League football... there is no guarantee he fits their image of the manager they are looking for to replace (Big Fat) Sam Allardyce (Bizarrely, some fans seem to want self-proclaimed fascist and managerial novice Paolo De Canio to return!) If Rangers stay up, Harry will have a friendly Chairman who has a proven commitment to supporting him in the transfer market. A Chairman with a concrete vision for the club, (new ground, training facilities, youth setup..) and most importantly, the apparent resources to challenge for the top half of the EPL (or better?). Name me another club where he would get that kind of support *and* where he would be likely to go? I had a look at the options... ManU - highly unlikely - SAF will be staying another year or two (50-1 odds) ManCity - highly unlikely (33-1) Spurs - AVB looks solid for a Champions League spot - highly unlikely (no odds quoted, it's that unlikely!) Chelsea - Abramovitch (allegedly) wants a Guardiola style coach... Harry is as far away from that as you can get - Not a good fit (no odds quoted) Arsenal - Wenger is going nowhere, and even if he was, Arsenal are not a 'spending' club like Spurs - not a good fit for Harry's financial habits (50-1) ...after those, come the other 'bigger' clubs Newcastle (Pardew on an 8 year contract), Everton (relative paupers, Harry's at 14-1 with Mark Hughes at 10-1!), Liverpool (Rodgers looks more secure after a troubled start)... and then West Brom Swansea Fulham Stoke Norwich Sunderland Southampton Aston Villa Wigan Reading... none of whom can offer the resources, location or potential that we can. You may argue he could go overseas, but I can't see it. To me, he's EPL through and through and I'm really not sure he is tactically astute enough for the European club game. I really see him much more as a motivator and a man manager - old school perhaps. If we go down, he may decide he doesn't need the hard labour of the FLC, and it would be hard to blame him at 67 - and at that point the teams in the lower reaches of the EPL would certainly offer an attractive alternative - but then wouldn't that apply to virtually any manager who was relegated (assuming he kept his job - no-one seems to have thought that TF might not think Harry is the man for the FLC)? Grant (the writer) has managed to write an entire article without managing to say anything more than: 'if a big team comes in for Harry he would probably take the job'. Followed by: 'if we are relegated he might not stay'. Well "No **** Sherlock!", the whole remainder of the article is a mismash of unsubstantiated conjecture and 'could', 'possibly', or 'may' happen events leading to the earth shattering conclusion (wait for it...) that the writer would be 'shocked' if Harry's tenure at LR is long term. No actual conclusion, or attempt at an evidence based argument, just personal, emotive, pub-argument style 'shock'... Perhaps he could now write an article on the piss-poor quality of internet journalism and how any old Tom, Dick or Harry can call themselves a journalist, he seems eminently qualified for that.
Unfortunately football is no longer a game or a sport like it was in the 60's or 70's, or even the late 40's, when I first got my addiction to the R's. As long as Harry can keep us up this year, I'm not too bothered. If we go down so be it. Been there seen that. Never have or never will support anyone but the R'ss.
Absolutely bang on the money...and not only that, the title of the article states that a man who has been in managment fo 29 years is auditioning his creditentials to the footballing elite as if he has something to prove? We stay up Harry will stay with us...for that I am sure, should we go down he will probably leave and for that I will bear no grudge.
Absolutely. Why am I trying to mangle a few words together for DT's positive letter to the world, Seagull you should be doing it. Great post.
