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‘He’s got my number – I’m here Marcus!’ – Harry Redknapp declares his interest in Ipswich Town job
Harry Redknapp has thrown his hat in the ring for the Ipswich Town manager's job. Photo: PA - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Harry Redknapp has, perhaps jokingly, declared his interest in the vacant Ipswich Town manager’s job this morning.
The 71-year-old was sacked by Birmingham City last September after five straight defeats left the Midlands side second-bottom of the Championship. He announced then that there was ‘every chance’ it would be his last managerial role.
However, speaking to former Town player Alan Brazil on TalkSport this morning, he said: “It’s a good job. I know Marcus as well, he’s got my number – I’m here Marcus!
“It is a good club. Ipswich is a real good football club. It’s got a nice feel about it over the years going back to the Cobbolds when Alan (Brazil) was there. It is a good football club.
“But no, I am quite happy at the moment. I’m just off now for a game of golf today and I’m playing again tomorrow.”
MORE: Read the full transcript of Marcus Evans’ first on-camera interview
Redknapp has been in charge of Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth (twice), Southampton, Tottenham, QPR and the Jordan national side during his 35-year managerial career.
It’s understood that he, along with Ian Holloway, was on the shortlist when Mick McCarthy was appointed at Portman Road back in November 2012. Redknapp has been a close football adviser to Evans throughout his decade as Blues owner.
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It would appear unlikely that he would be a contender for the Town job at this juncture though given that Evans yesterday announced: “It’s going to be a new era with a new manager. We are going to try something different. It’s going to be calculated but it’s going to be different.”
The intimation is that, following the appointments of Roy Keane, Paul Jewell and Mick McCarthy – three men who all had Championship promotions on their CVs when arriving at Portman Road – Town’s owner is prepared to go with an up-and-coming boss.
MORE: Wigan’s Paul Cook emerges as new favourite
Blues fans have made it clear that they don’t want the last manager off the so-called managerial merry-go-round in a poll run by this website.
Another option is that Redknapp could fit into a new structure that includes a proper director of football role that would free up a younger manager to concentrate more on coaching.
Redknapp took on the role of ‘football adviser’ at Derby County in 2016 to help inexperienced head coach Darren Wassell.
And ex-Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who is Redknapp’s nephew, is among those listed by the bookies as a Town candidate (25/1).
Town managing director Ian Milne did, however, dismiss that sort of structure when asked about rivals Norwich going down that route last summer.
Meanwhile, Chris Coleman is the latest boss to be linked with the Town job. The Daily Mirror reports the 47-year-old’s future at Sunderland is doubt following their relegation to League One and that the Blues see him as a potential target.
The former Fulham boss led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, with current Town coach Geraint Williams a key part of his staff that summer.
There has been much talk about Town waiting to appoint a manager currently tied up in a promotion push, but it’s not out of the question that they may hire someone currently heading for relegation. Burton’s Nigel Clough – who has worked minor miracles at The Pirelli Stadium – would also fit that bill.
Evans has said he expects to make an appointment in late May, early June which suggests he may well break with tradition and recruit someone currently in employment.
