Redknapp reveals sympathy for former club Portsmouth but defends his record

03 October 2009 00:53
Harry Redknapp has expressed sympathy for former club Portsmouth after a week of chaos at Fratton Park. Pompey are yet to take any points from their opening seven games, while a rival consortium had to pay the players' wages after chief executive Peter Storrie admitted the club's funds had run out. The situation was compounded when new Arab owner Sulaiman Al Fahim, who has promised a £50million cash injection into the club, was taken to hospital for an operation on his kidney stones. Redknapp, whose Tottenham side have won five of their first seven league matches this season, admits he is saddened by South Coast club's struggles. He said: 'I left Portsmouth more than a year ago. Hopefully, Portsmouth will get sorted out. 'I just hope the guy who is in hospital recovers and puts his money in and Portsmouth will be fine. 'It's been a difficult year for them. They've sold £80million worth of players and it's sad to see them in that situation. 'I just hope the guy sticks to his word and gives Peter Storrie the help he needs to sort the club out.' Redknapp, who left Fratton Park just over a year ago, sympathised with Portsmouth manager Paul Hart. 'It's difficult for Harty,' said Redknapp. 'I took him there. It's just sad. 'As somebody said they've (Portsmouth) found the only Arab who seems to be struggling for money. Everybody else has got millions of it. It's sad to see them in that situation.' Redknapp, however, defended his own record at Fratton Park which saw a host of big name players win the FA Cup at Wembley less than 18 months ago. Redknapp said: 'People say "You bought players like (Lassana) Diarra." Yeah, well they (Portsmouth) paid £5m for Diarra and paid him £50,000 a week. 'But he was there for less than a year and they sold him for £22m. Where is that money? Where is the money for Glen Johnson? Where does it all go? It's sad to see.' Redknapp admitted he realised there were problems at Portsmouth under former owner Sasha Gaydamak but he urged Hart to keep believing that the club's problems could be surmounted. 'You've got to keep going," said Redknapp. "I sensed with the previous owner things were not right. You need owners who are interested in the football club, who want to support the team. 'I don't know why people get involved in football clubs when they are not really that interested in the club. That is what has happened to Portsmouth in my opinion. 'When they got £5m compensation for me they were really happy to accept the money. In fact, I think they called a taxi for me.'

Source: Daily_Mail