Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has revealed why he, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson have survived in the game so long.

He explained to the Sunday Mirror: "The thing that links the three of us is being able to spot a good player, motivate and handle them.

"If you can't find the right players and you don't know how to handle certain personalities you will never survive in this sport. I had a great example of that at Portsmouth. I signed Paul Merson in the season we got promoted and he was undoubtedly our best player.

"Paul had his problems, which have been well documented and one day he came to me and said, 'Harry, I need some time off. I'd like to go to Tony Adams' clinic and get my head right'.

"Naturally I was very supportive. But bugger me, a few days later a mate of mine rings me and says, 'Harry, I've just seen Paul Merson on the beach in Barbados'.

"He came back six days later in the middle of winter with the most spectacular tan I'd ever seen. Now I could have gone ballistic, fined him or thrown him out the club. I didn't say a thing.

"On the Saturday we won 2-0. He scored both goals and was the best player on the pitch. It's knowing how to handle certain individuals that counts."