Redknapp sticks to task at hand

Harry Redknapp says he has not been distracted from his duties as Tottenham Hotspur manager by speculation linking him with the England job.

Redknapp, 64, is the heavy favourite to replace Fabio Capello in the England national set-up following the Italian’s resignation earlier this month.

With Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce installed as caretaker, the Football Association are unlikely to make the new appointment for some time yet.

And Redknapp claims he has not been diverted by the issue, with Spurs’ FA Cup fifth-round tie away to Stevenage on Sunday his immediate priority.

“It is not a distraction, not at all,” he said.

“I have just been thinking about Stevenage all week.”

“My focus has to be on trying to get Tottenham as high as I can in the table.”

“I can’t start thinking about anything else really.”

Redknapp saw his players thrash Newcastle United 5-0 in the English Premier League last Sunday.

It was their first match since his exoneration from tax evasion charges, as well as Capello’s resignation and the subsequent clamour for Redknapp’s appointment.

“The players came out, got on with it and played fantastic against Newcastle so it didn’t distract anybody,” he said.

“The whole team were outstanding. The way we played was top class and that was important.”

Redknapp said his relationship with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, combined with a successful squad, made if difficult for him to consider leaving White Hart Lane.

“If you were managing a team that was struggling and you thought ‘this lot aint too clever’, it certainly would be different, but I am at a great club with good players and I haven’t got any problems here,” he said.

“I get on well with the chairman. We have a good relationship, probably as good a relationship as he has had with any manager.”

“We haven’t got any problems here and at the moment there nothing else has happened.

“I’ve not spoken to anybody. I’m not going to rule myself out but I’ve not been ruled in either.”