Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper has confirmed he rejected a move to Tottenham earlier this season.

"Ask any of the managers who have been here in my time - and there's been about 100 - and they'll all tell you that I've always knocked on the door and asked to play, but I haven't done it publicly," he told The Times.

"I haven't slagged anybody off or started fights in training. My contract was up at the end of this season and, after Kevin Keegan left, talks about a new one dried up.

"Bosman transfers are fantastic if you're young and playing regularly, but if you're 33, have a family and a mortgage and haven't played a lot of football, you're conscious of injury and being in the pool of unemployed players.

"There was speculation about Shay and I wanted to see what happened in January. Tottenham offered half a million for me, which was flattering, but, as it turned out, I signed my deal, Shay left and I'm still here."