Harry Redknapp insists he will not allow the speculation linking him with the England soccer job to distract him from his task of securing Champions League qualification for Tottenham Hotspur.
Redknapp has emerged as the clear favourite to succeed Fabio Capello after the Italian quit the post in protest against the Football Association’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy.
Capello’s departure came on the same day as Redknapp’s two-week trial on tax evasion charges ended with the manager acquitted.
The two events combined to provide the Spurs manager with a highly-charged 72 hours before his Tottenham side provided a welcome distraction by defeating Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane.
And while Redknapp has admitted he is flattered to be touted as Capello’s replacement, he emphasised his ties with Tottenham – and in particular chairman Daniel Levy – cannot be overlooked.
“Nothing’s happened with the England job. No one has spoken to me or Daniel about it. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone here to think about it. Daniel gave me the job – he brought me to the club when there was a public court case hanging over me.
“He looked at the case and had great faith there shouldn’t be a case. So I owe him and we’ve been great for each other. At the moment, I can’t take my focus off Tottenham.
“It was the most difficult week I’ve ever had for sure. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that. What it’s done to my family was worse.
“But it’s behind us now and the week’s turned out good. Things turned out right and the lads played well today.”
Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Louis Saha (twice) and Niko Kranjcar scored to put Spurs into a four-goal lead before halftime and Emmanuel Adebayor made it five midway through the second half.
The result means Spurs lie third, 10 points ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal and Redknapp is targeting a place in to the Champions League for second time in three seasons.
“I just keep looking at the gap between us and fourth. We really want Champions League football again.
“If we can close on the front two, that will be fantastic but I really want us to get a Champions League place.”
