Redknapp ready to discuss new terms
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed he wants to negotiate a new deal for next season with club owners Milan Mandaric and Alexandre Gaydamak.
The 59-year-old has yet to be officially told whether the victory at Wigan last Saturday which ensured the club’s Barclays Premiership is enough to secure him a new agreement to replace the one which expires at the end of the season.
Pompey chairman Mandaric believes tying him to the club for the next couple of years will be a formality.
But uncertainty over Mandaric’s future at the club means the decision could rest with Franco-Russian co-owner Gaydamak, who paid £15m (€21.8m) for a 50% stake in January.
Redknapp fears the 30-year-old may want a new manager despite Pompey’s incredible escape from relegation.
Earlier this season after Portsmouth had taken just one point from the first eight games in which Gaydamak was involved, there were reports Redknapp might be facing the sack.
Mandaric, 67, has since angrily patched up any ’misunderstandings’ on that score, although Pompey’s superb run of 21 points from the last 10 games did most of that.
Gaydamak, however, was not at Wigan on Saturday after apparently experiencing travel complications from Israel where he was on a family visit.
Redknapp wants to know whether Gaydamak will buy up Mandaric’s remaining stake in the club – as is thought to be an option in their joint-ownership agreement.
And if the manager can be assured of the new investor’s backing, he will also want to know what hope there is of raising more cash to bid for the permanent signature of on-loan midfielder Andres D’Alessandro and buying new players as well.
Argentinian D’Alessandro is rated at £6m (€8.7m) by his German club Wolfsburg, who claim at least two other Bundesliga clubs are interested in buying him.
Redknapp spent nearly £12m (€17.4m) on nine signings in January but has kicked expensive misfits like Zvonimir Vukic, John Viafara, Gregory Vignal and Dario Silva off the payroll.
He is not keen to fight another season of nerve-shredding survival and would love to challenge for honours with a strong squad.
Redknapp has revealed he would have quit football if Pompey had gone down this term, admitting: “I’ve been through the mill in the past two years. It takes its toll, on yourself and your family.
“This will definitely be my last club unless I go to Swanage. I could row over there from where I live (Poole, Dorset). But I want Milan to stay at the club. There’s only one Milan.”
