Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists the move to Spurs is not a riposte to those critics who said he lacked ambition after previously turning down the opportunity to manage Newcastle. Redknapp, who has been in charge of 1,083 matches across six different teams in his 25 years in English football, said it was difficult to move away from Portsmouth but that he relished the opportunity.

He told The Independent: "It was difficult, Portsmouth are a great club and a great way of life.

"To take on a team with two points on the bottom of the league, some people said, 'Are you sure you're all right, Harry?'"