Harry Redknapp responds to Tottenham return suggestion and makes relegation claim

Harry Redknapp has dismissed his chances of returning to Tottenham and believes Spurs are now favourites to be relegated from the Premier League.

Tottenham are now just one point above the relegation zone following their 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday evening.

The result has also left Igor Tudor with a record of three defeats in three games since replacing Thomas Frank as manager last month.

In the aftermath of the loss to Palace, a section of Spurs supporters have called on the club to bring back Redknapp for a second stint in charge but the 79-year-old, who has not managed since a 13-game spell at Birmingham City in 2017, is not holding out much hope of a return.

‘Four or five weeks ago I really couldn’t see Tottenham being involved in a relegation scrap,’ Redknapp told talkSPORT on Friday.

‘Every week has gone by it’s got worse. West Ham are now playing very well which is great, Forest picked up a big point the other night, the only other side getting sucked in now is Leeds, they’ve got sucked into that battle as well, I thought they were clear because they’ve had a good season, played ever so well.

‘But Tottenham are bang in it now, must be truthful. They’re looking like they could even be favourites out the four to go, it’s that desperate.’

When asked about Tudor’s frank assessment of Spurs’ poor performances after their defeats, Redknapp replied: ‘I mean, I don’t know the man. He’s been around a long time, he’s managed at top clubs. He looks a bit of a hard nut, doesn’t he? He looks like you wouldn’t want to have a mess about with him, for sure.

‘But I don’t know if that is the approach. I think that confidence obviously is low. They go out when they play at home, it seems that they they’ve not performed and they need a bit of confidence. They need a bit of belief in the team.

‘They look to me like they need a arm round, have a little chat individually with every player and get them get them on side and make them start believing, ‘look go out and as best you can, try and enjoy playing football’, because at the moment they do they do look a bundle of nerves. They really do look on edge, which is dangerous.

‘West Ham made a couple of signings, Summerville’s come back from injury and he’s absolutely flying, him and Bowen together in the side, they’ve got a centre-forward now. West Ham are starting to believe, their crowd are amazing, they’ll stay with them. I could see them getting themselves out of trouble. They did look dead and buried five weeks ago.

‘Forest are picking up one or two results, they got some decent players, they played three at the back the other night, looked physically strong, they’ll be difficult to beat.

‘Leeds don’t deserve to be there, they’ve played very well this year, they had a go in every game, the games you’ve watched where they’ve led and been pegged back last minute don’t seem to have gone their way. But I think I think Forest, you know, got every chance of staying up. So Tottenham are bang in it. There’s absolutely no doubt about that at the moment.’

Asked if he would return to Tottenham if they approached him, Redknapp replied: ‘Of course I would have to, wouldn’t I? But it’s not going to happen.

‘No, I can’t see that happening. I think I’ll be at Cheltenham on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

‘Wednesday I’ve got a runner, Taurus Bay, he runs in the first race on Wednesday. He’s got a chance, a 20/1 shot, it’s an open race but he’s got a shot.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.