Stadium decision disappoints Redknapp

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says the club desperately need a new stadium if they are to compete at the top of the Premier League.

The north London club were dealt a huge blow on Friday when West Ham were chosen as the preferred bidders by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for the use of the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.

The decision still has to be ratified by two government departments and the mayor of London, but it appears certain that Tottenham will have to look elsewhere as they seek to move into a new 60,000-seat stadium that would allow them to compete financially with the matchday revenue of the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

And Redknapp admits that is a blow as the club looks to maintain their push for a Champions League place against Sunderland on Saturday.

“Tottenham need a new stadium,” said Redknapp. “We need a new 60,000-seater stadium because we haven’t got room to accommodate all the people that want to come and watch us every week.”

“Am I disappointed West Ham have been chosen as the preferred bidder? Yes, because the club wanted it.”

“I work for them so it would’ve been nice for us if we had got it if they thought it was the best way forward. The chairman couldn’t have tried any harder but that’s it. That’s life. You have to move on.”

Redknapp’s main focus is on Saturday’s tricky tie at the Stadium of Light. With Chelsea not playing until Monday night, Spurs will move into the top four if they win in the north-east.

But with Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Ledley King all out injured, Redknapp is expecting a tough test as his side battle to keep their Champions League spot.

And with an away game against AC Milan in the last 16 to come on Tuesday, the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss is not happy about the timing of Saturday evening’s kick-off.

“The timing isn’t ideal is it for us, it’s not perfect for sure,” said Redknapp. “But we have to focus on getting into the top four now, that’s the key.”

“AC Milan shouldn’t be a distraction. We have a difficult game tomorrow and Steve Bruce has done a great job there.”

“He has taken a good couple of players. Steve rang me about Sulley Muntari and I said I would take him all day long, having had him at Portsmouth, and (Stephane) Sessegnon is a good player. They have some quality and it will be a difficult game.”