Redknapp rules out West Ham return

Harry Redknapp has ruled himself out of the running to become West Ham manager and praised Alan Curbishley.

Redknapp is one of the favourites to fill the vacancy left by Curbishley's sudden resignation but he has pleged to stay at Portsmouth because he values the control he is given at Fratton Park.

He said: "Alan Curbishley may have gone as West Ham boss but there's no way I'll replace him.

"Curbs quit because he feels he has been undermined and shown a lack of trust by the owner. I take my hat off to him for sticking to his principles.

"Don't get me wrong, West Ham is a fantastic club, with fantastic fans and, having gone there aged 15, it has a special place in my heart.

"But I love it at Portsmouth and I have one big advantage over a lot of Premier League bosses these days, I've got an owner who lets the manager manage."

Curbishley has hinted West Ham players George McCartney and Anton Ferdinand were sold to Sunderland in the last week against his wishes and he quit the club in protest.

He said: "I felt I could just not stand by and let what happened pass, especially at the weekend, so I made a decision.

"Some managers may not have taken this action, but I could not sit around and be silent on it.

"I am absolutely gutted I have had to come to this decision."

And Curbishley's decision has been supported by Redknapp who claims foreign owners no longer rely on managers to arrange transfers.

Redknapp said: "The days of managing as I know it are coming to end, you will basically be given players and told to get on with it.

"West Ham sold players and it was nothing to do with Alan, but that will happen more and more.

"Let's face it, the way it's going, every Premier League club will be owned by a foreign billionaire.

"They all want to win the title, they all want to be in the Champions League and if they don't get it they'll be changing managers like we change socks. It will be a revolving door that never stops turning and while we're at it, we might as well sack all the scouts too, as there won't be any need if players are coming and going above managers' head."

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