Is Harry Redknapp a Portsmouth hero or villain?

Let's get this straight right from the off: Harry Redknapp is the most successful manager Portsmouth have had in the modern era. He's also deserted them twice.

When he first took over in 2002 from Graham Rix, the side were knee-deep in trouble - languishing in the depths of the Championship and apparently doomed to the third tier of English football. By the end of the following season they were champions by six points and on their way back to the top flight for the first time since 1988.

But in 2004, Redknapp resigned, preferring not to work under Velimir Zajec, who Milan Mandaric, the chairman, had appointed as director of football. Then followed the cardinal sin: Redknapp took over at arch rivals Southampton.

Neither club benefited from the changes and Redknapp returned to a relegated-haunted Fratton Park in December 2005 amid a shower of boos and vitriol from the Pompey faithful only to perform a footballing miracle and keep them up.

In January of this year he turned down the Newcastle job, saying he loved Portsmouth too much to leave. He then won the FA Cup and got the club into Europe for the first time in their history. As recently as last week, Redknapp concluded a television interview by announcing he was: "Pompey till I die."

And then he walked out to take the Tottenham job, claiming it was his last chance to manage a "big club".

So should Redknapp be lauded for his immense achievements on the South Coast and seen off with a grateful pat on the back? Or is he turning his back on a job half done? Is Redknapp a Portsmouth hero or villain? Have your say below.

Comments

[Ilja]

Values like loyalty or at least physical values such as contracts don't mean anything to players - why should they be the only mercenaries?
Redknapp switched the queue, but like in supermarkets it remains to be seen if this one will take hom faster to where he wants to be...

[Dave]

Let's get this straight right from the off: Harry Redknapp is not the most successful manager Portsmouth have ever had. That would be Jack Tinn who took them to three cup finals, winning one in 39. Or Bob Jackson who won back to back league titles in 48/49 and 49/50.

[Drew Bonsall]

Redknapp is just another mercenary on the football money-go-round. When the bubble bursts these millionaires will count their money as our national game sinks in debt and many of our famous old clubs implode.

[Gaz]

Redknapp is an egotistical media-whore, loved only by sycophantic journalists and whomever he is currently complimenting with his forked-tongue.

Real Pompey fans are saying thank you for the good times; now shut up, leave our proud city and club alone - you are not welcome back here again.

[adam ingrey]

Im an arsenal fan, and think he's nothing short of a turn coat, one miinute he's saying he couldn't leave for love nor money as he's portsmouth thru and thru, then sorry how much are you offering me Mr Levy, and its later pompey, But im not surprised look at he's history. He wont be at spurs more then 18 months, he's there to keep them up and then another ' big named manager' will be brought. Your better of without him pompey. Tony Adams blue and white army i say.

[Martin Chapman]

Harry Redknapp gave Portsmouth success they could only have dreamed of when he first took over.

A legend of the game.

[Peter]

Harry Redknapp has soured his reputation in Portsmouth by lying and being disrespectful about the club he claimed he wanted to die at as recently as weeks ago. Harry has no job before Pompey he took him and nobody wanted him after he relegated Southampton. He should thank Pompey and the fans for the opportunity....oh and the millions of punds.Shut up and go away Redknapp

[dave]

The thing that gets to people is the lies he comes out with, pompey till i die, my spirtual home, this is my last job in football.
Then when he does leave he tries to make out that pompey wanted the 5m, like he's done us a favour.
Bring in sam or curbs, men with principles.

[Daniel Ennor]

I am Pompey till I die, I don't abuse that phrase because I mean it.
Trust and loyalty are things that mean a lot to football fans, if only the same could be said of some the high profile individuals in the game. No doubt I appreciate what Mr Redknapp did for Pompey, but use and abuse words that mean it all for us is just wrong.

[Richard Dow]

Sorry you'd think he'd raped his way round the club to get this venom, I know it stinks when a popular manager leaves but guys cup winner and in Europe.
How many premiership teams would give their eye teeth for that.
(I know its ironic Ramos at Spurs, same record :) )

[Dave N]

Why is football the only business where you can leave for one of your immediate competitors, with an intimate knowledge of how they work, and immediately start poaching their best "employees" (coaches, players, scouts etc).
If Peter Kenyon had to do his "gardening leave," even though UTD got compensated for his services, before he started at Chelsea - 3 months I believe or though it may have been 6.
I ask because its pretty clear that the first players Harry will try and buy are clearly the likes of Defoe and Crouch, maybe Krankjaer. The point is he is clearly armed with knowledge of exactly what state the Pompey finances are in, what value they place on players and able to pull the heart strings of the players. Anyone else think its unfair?

[Russ]

Harry has worked miracles at Pompey and must be remembered as an absolute legend. He was appointed to Manage a football team which he did with amazing success and with the resources provided winning the FA cup is without doubt a huge overachievement for a club which still has a ground which would not rival most championship teams.

The offer on the table at Spurs is to take a vastly underachieving club with huge potential from the foot of the table would be an attractive one for any Manager outside the big 4 teams. Add to that the huge increase in salary and bonuses likely to be on offer, Pompey's mounting debts and lack of training facilities, a modern stadium or proven youth acadamy. How can anyone in their right mind blame him for doing what any working person would do and take the offer of what effectively is a promotion.

Good luck Harry. You deserve it!

[Paul]

Cristiano Ronaldo became Manchester's most hated individual for much less. If Ronaldo went to Madrid, it was to a foreign club and in the off-season. Redknapp ditched the club for a premier league rival in the middle of the season and in the middle of a long term contract. To boot, he will probably be back to plunder Pompey's playing roster.

This is a clear cut case of treason but when it happens for "good ol 'arry" as opposed to an arrogant portuguese brat then double standards begin to apply based on personality.

Just because he's polite doesn't mean Redknapp isn't a traitor to Pompey and their fans.

[Ashburton Perry]

Sam?? Principles????!!!!

[Nick Petrie]

Comments about his supposed love for Pompey by the Media whore that is Redknapp....

I Love This Club
"I'm happy - this is a club I feel comfortable at. I have a fantastic relationship with the fans, a fantastic relationship with the owner and with Peter (Storrie, chief executive). The players I've brought to the club, I've sold Portsmouth to them and to walk away having brought them here, when the club is doing so well, wouldn't be right" - Harry Redknapp, January 7.

"I had no intention of leaving here. The job now is to take this club forward" - Harry Redknapp, January 12.

"I'm happy here, people treat me well and I felt a loyalty to the club and the fans" - Harry Redknapp, January 12.

"It would be difficult to sleep at night. You have to look at yourself and say 'the club's been good to me and I've got to pay them back'" - Harry Redknapp, January 12.

"It was a difficult decision not to go to Newcastle, but I was thinking about the players who I had encouraged to come here, who I had told what we could achieve and I thought to myself, 'I can't have done that and then just walk away myself'. Newcastle is a fantastic club but I made the decision and I am happy with it. If I was 40, I might have gone, but I didn't want to be away from my wife and grandchildren. I also have a great team here" - Harry Redknapp, March 10.

"We are not a great club in terms of stadium, training facilities and number of fans we can get in but this is where I'm happy" - Harry Redknapp, April 11.

"I love it here at Portsmouth. I enjoy coming in here to training every day. I'll stay be here until I'm not wanted" - Harry Redknapp, May 16.

"I've said this will be my last job in football" - Harry Redknapp, August 18.

Big Fan
"I was a big Arsenal fan as a kid" - Harry Redknapp in The Daily Telegraph, February 17.

"I followed Tottenham, I trained there as an 11-year-old, 12-year-old so I know the history of the club. It is a big, big, club" - Harry Redknapp on The BBC Website, October 26.

My Kind Of People
"It's a disgrace. People chant filth, it's nothing to do with football. Some of the stuff that goes on is completely out of order" - Harry Redknapp on Spurs fans, October 3.

"What are you supposed to do? Sit back and say nothing? We are talking about racist abuse and everything else thrown in. How do Spurs people feel when they get abuse? They have had lots of abuse over the years and have a big Jewish element among their supporters. Someone has got to make a stand and if Sol wants to we are right behind him. What kind of a nutter must you be to do this kind of thing?" - Harry Redknapp on Spurs fans, October 3.

[Danny]

To really understand the bad feeling at Portsmouth about Harry you need to have followed his comments, only worthy of local news, since he turned down the Newcastle post in January. Firstly he said on numerous occasions that he couldn't leave Pompey because the club and the fans meant so much to him. Since then it has been a relentless campaign to win over the fans with comments along the lines of 'Pompey will be my last club', 'This club feels like home to me', 'I have so many friends here' etc. He did a good job at Pompey, not a great job when you consider all the money he spent, and you can understand him wanting the Spurs job, but people just resent all the empty words and spin worthy of a Blair government.

[Jon]

Im a Scouser and have no real interest but I have always disliked Redknapp for joining Southampton.
I know how intense the rivalry between the clubs is down there and it shows how greedy the man is that he even considered joining.
Its the equivalent of Benitez joining the mancs.
A man with morals would not do this.

[David]

Harry is a professional football manager, not a Pompey fan. You fans are getting confused between the two. It is a job for him with a career path. Harry does not love Pompey in the same way as the Pompey fans and you should not expect him to. If you asked him he would say that his club is West Ham.

[Marc]

he will talk to players about loyalty and try to sell the club to them to make them join ... he stated he loved it at portsmouth and it would be his last job in football (when he was offered his big new contract) ... he called spurs fans vile and disgusting a few weeks ago , he should feel at home.

[Marc]

good luck trying to sell all the flats you are trying to build in Portsmouth

[John Best]

After all the comments already mentioned about loyalty, love of the club and fans, followed by the walkout who but Redknapp would be thick skinned enough to turn up at the Guildhall to take the Freedom of the City presentation.

Go away and please stay away Harry.

[Rob Hillery]

He should be a Hero to them! He won them the FA Cup! Not only that he kept them in this league, build them into a good side and has now put them into Europe, he has to be their best manager ever. At the end of the day, Portsmouth have reached their potential, just as the human body reaches it's training potential when you body-build. When you get to that point you need Steriods to get bigger, in football terms, you need a very rich man to come in and pump money into the club. Portsmouth are up for sale, need a new training complex, a new ground, are struggling to make money and will struggle to keep the good players who got them their success because they cannot pay them the high wages they demand. It's a shame because they have the best support in the Premeirship but they will dip, not get relegated but will be a mid-table club far from the Europeaun places.