Redknapp won´t abandon Spurs

Harry Redknapp says he will not abandon Tottenham before the end of the season to take up the England managerial post.

Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Fabio Capello, who resigned as England boss just four months before Euro 2012.

Spurs are still very much involved in the English Premier League title race, despite sitting seven points behind Manchester City, and Redknapp said he would not walk out on the club before the end of the season.

“Whoever they go for, the chances are they’re going to be in a job,” Redknapp said.

“It’s certainly difficult for people to suddenly walk out of their clubs at this stage of the year, so it probably would make it easier for everyone (if the FA waited).”

“I’ve not had any contact. I’ve just got to concentrate on the job here. We’ve had a great season. I wouldn’t want the players to think: ‘Is he going, is he staying?’.”

“I’ve got to be here until the end of the season, whatever happens, that’s for sure. I’ve got to be right to the club.”

“I owe it to Tottenham to just keep concentrating on the end of the season because there’s so much to play for here. I’ve got to keep letting the players know: ‘This is where we’re at’.”

“Sunday’s a big game in the FA Cup against Stevenage. We’ve got some fantastic games coming up – Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea. I’ve got to really focus on that. I couldn’t be looking elsewhere at the moment.”

Spurs’ play their final game of the season at Fulham on May 13 against Fulham, just under a month before England kick off their Euro 2012 campaign against France, winners in 2000.

With a training camp, squad decisions and two friendlies to fit into what is expected to be a busy few weeks, an appointment that close to a major tournament appears fraught with danger.

Redknapp acknowledged he is the popular choice to replace Capello, and said he at least hoped th job went to an Englishman.

“People come and talk to me – I talk to everybody anyway – so I realise that (a lot of people want me as England manager). It’s nice but we all know football’s a fickle game,” he said.

“You lose a couple of games and it’s ‘you don’t what you’re doing’. I don’t think it puts you off but I don’t think you’d go in thinking everybody likes you.”

“I would like to see an English manager appointed. We’ve been down the other route. Big Phil Scolari nearly had it, didn’t he?”

“Sometimes you build people up because they are foreign and people think they are better than anybody in England. There’s the passion for it (for an Englishman). This is your country.”