Harry Redknapp claims Les Ferdinand's title at Loftus Road is 'stupid'

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp claims Les Ferdinand's title at Loftus Road is 'stupid'

Ferdinand will be at Rangers for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday for the first time since being named head of football operations





Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp claims Les Ferdinand's title at Loftus Road is 'stupid'

Future uncertain: QPR manager Harry Redknapp has branded new head of football operations Les Ferdinand's title as 'stupid' Photo: PA








By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent

10:30PM BST 17 Oct 2014



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Harry Redknapp has labelled Les Ferdinand’s title as head of football operations at Queens Park Rangers as “stupid.”


Ferdinand will be in the Loftus Road directors’ box on Sunday for the first time since being handed his new job, to watch Redknapp fight for his position as manager against Liverpool.


One of Ferdinand’s first tasks at the club sitting bottom of the table could be to consult with chairman Tony Fernandes on whether Redknapp should be kept on after the Liverpool game. A QPR statement claimed former striker Ferdinand will provide a link between the boardroom and the pitch.


But when asked what Ferdinand is doing at Loftus Road, Redknapp replied: “Erm. I love Les, I get on great with Les. I’ve got a lot of time for Les. He’s just looking at the youth set-up and everything else.


“Tony (Fernandes) wanted to bring him in. He’s an iconic figure at the club, he was a top player here. Tony felt he’d be good to have. That’s where we are at the moment, who knows where we will be next week. Who knows
On the fact Ferdinand has been made head of football operations, Redknapp added: “It’s a stupid title really, isn’t it? I think he’s just looking at the scouting and all that type of stuff.

“I speak to Les all the time, I’ve just had a cup of tea with him. I knew he was coming. The chairman asked me what I thought about Les and I said, ‘I love him. Great lad’.”

Redknapp has previously argued against the idea of working with a director of football or sporting director, but joked that, aged 67, he is ready to move upstairs.

“Now I’m getting older I quite fancy that one,” said Redknapp. “I’m ready for the director of football job, I think it’s a good idea! I’ll have a chat with Tony about that.”

Redknapp was due to have dinner with Fernandes on Friday night, but insisted he would not be begging to keep his job or paying the bill to curry favour.

“I don’t need assurances,” said Redknapp. “I talk to Tony every day. We’re going to dinner tonight. But I’m not going to pay for it so he keeps me in a job. I’ll let him pay. It’s up to Tony what he does.

"What am I going to say, ‘Please Mr Fernandes, keep me in a job?’ If he’s not happy, then he can come and talk to me. I am a big boy. I am feeling no pressure whatsoever. I wouldn’t beg to anybody to keep my job.

“I’m not under pressure. We’re seven games into a Premier League season. We’ve played three home games.

"We lost to Hull, beat Sunderland and drew with Stoke in a good game. We’re not 20-odd games in.”

Redknapp knows better than most how precarious the position of a football manager can be, having been sacked by Tottenham after guiding the club to fourth place. Just as he has not harboured a grudge against Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, Redknapp insists he will not fall out with Fernandes.

“Daniel was all right,” said Redknapp. “I never had a problem with Daniel. I got on well with him really. He didn’t pay for dinners! I still talk to Daniel now. I’ll still talk to Tony in a few years when I’m not the manager of QPR, hopefully. Life goes on doesn’t it?”

Redknapp’s alarm clock went off at 4am on Friday morning so he could get to QPR’s training ground early. He claims his enthusiasm for management is as great as it has ever been, but admits he cannot go on forever.

Should he lose his QPR job, however, Redknapp refused to rule out taking a post at another club.

“All I know is I was up at 4am this morning, like I am every morning,” said Redknapp. “I must do it for some reason. And I’m not doing it because I have to feed the dogs. The day I don’t want to do it, I’ll just roll back over when the alarm goes off.

“I can’t keep going forever can I? As much as you want to. It’s got to come to an end sometime. Someone is going to bomb you out eventually or you retire gracefully. That’s the options isn’t it?”

Asked if the QPR job will be his last, Redknapp added: “I wouldn’t say that, no. I don’t think about losing this job. Who knows, in two months’ time someone says, ‘You said it was your last job’ and I’ve gone and taken another job, I don’t know.

“While I enjoy it, I’ll keep doing it, if I don’t enjoy it, I won’t do it. I’ll go and play golf every day.”

Redknapp may well spend Sunday night cleaning his golf clubs if Liverpool leave Loftus Road with three points

 

“All I know is I was up at 4am this morning, like I am every morning

explains why he always looks asleep during games

 

What a load of old bollocks from Redknapp. He couldn't sound less enthusiastic if he tried!

 

I recommend a quick read of the introduction to Redknapp's new 'book' if you are hanging around in WH Smith's or Waterstones. All about his feelings during and after the play off final - basically guilt because "we didn't deserve it" (sorry Col) and musings about retirement. He didn't join the players and staff celebrations after the game because of his ambivalence about winning. Fortunately, he then decided it's all about luck and '"that's football". [Note, this is Redknapp, so all of the above may be 'false memories' which he actually believes but are about subconscious anecdote quality improvement]

In the real world of course he hasn't learned or tried anything new as a manager for years, he is retired in all but name. And of course renumeration.

 

Not as stupid as Rio Ferdinands title of "Captain"

 

This, come back Joey and Clint

 

Just shows what complete bollocks he spews forth these days eh?
"Didn't deserve it"........FFS......just about sums him up. I am struggling to think of a previous manager that felt less QPR than Redknapp.
All excuses and no substance.

 

Another "stupid" title.....Harold Redknapp Manager......

 

Paul Hart?

I do wonder if they're brokering a deal for Harry to go on health grounds. Saves face for all and no long term contract in place.

Just hope we show some grit tomorrow, win or lose.

 

I just wish Harold had a mute button.

Just one word to describe Mr Redknapp , boring, just like his brand of football since he took the rudder at QPR.

 

I suppose that statement could relate to mental (detached persona) or physical (dodgy knee) grounds?

 

I think you have just hit on something Kilburn. Harry has often mentioned about his dyslexia. I am a fellow dyslexia sufferer, hence as some of you may have noticed my spelling can be a bit crap from time to time.

A common trait with dyslexia (trust me I can confirm this) is that you can remember the letters or numbers, but often forget the order they are meant to be arranged in. This would explain the team selections and tactics....

 

Stupid thing for Harry to say and very disrespectful.

 

Like him playing Traore wide right midfield last season? His coaches should be helping him with this sort of problem!