Ex-Spurs boss joins Bournemouth for love of football

Saturday, September 8, 2012
12:01 PM

Harry Redknapp admitted that his love for football saw him return to the club that gave him his first managerial job in an advisory capacity.

Harry Redknapp during his first spell at Bournemouth. Photo credit: Paul Marriott/EMPICS

Out of work since leaving Tottenham in the summer, the 65-year-old today accepted a voluntary position at npower League One side Bournemouth.

Redknapp managed the Cherries from 1983 to 1992 before embarking on a high-profile career that took him to West Ham, Portsmouth, Southampton and Spurs.

But with the Premier League job he craves not currently available, Redknapp has opted to accept an offer from Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell to help out at Dean Court.

He has not signed a contract and will not be paid, citing his passion for the game as the reason behind his return.

“It keeps me involved. I enjoy watching football and tomorrow, if I wasn’t playing golf, I’d be sitting around,” he told Sky Sports News.

“As it is, I will go and watch them play Yeovil and I am looking forward to it.

“I love football. I’m a football watcher, I have loved it all my life and it is what I do.

“I will stop and watch kids playing football in the park if I’m passing. It takes me 10 minutes to get to Bournemouth’s ground and it’s a club that is close to me.”

Bournemouth are currently 19th in League One, just a point outside the drop zone, the last place in which is occupied by Redknapp’s former club Portsmouth.

While at Fratton Park Redknapp was assisted by Paul Groves, who is now the Bournemouth manager, and he is looking forward to their reunion.

“Eddie Mitchell asked if I’d go along and add some experience to Paul Groves, who I think is an outstanding young manager,” Redknapp added.

“I’ve said I can’t commit or give any long-term commitment but, in the next month or two, I am only too pleased to go along. I can’t play golf every day.”

Groves should not worry about Redknapp muscling in, though, with the latter saying: “Paul has been ringing me asking me to go down anyway. I won’t be going in the dressing room.

“This is on a voluntary basis. There is no contract or money and I’ll go to games when I can, or pop along to training. I love being involved in football and it’s a club I have a lot of affection for.”

Redknapp lives on the south coast and did so throughout his time with Tottenham, giving an indication of his fondness for the area.

During his first stint with the club he helped them escape relegation from the Football League before masterminding an FA Cup win over Manchester United.

He also won the Third Division title in the 1986/87 season, but quit after they were relegated to become Billy Bonds’ assistant West Ham.