Harry Redknapp has urged Tottenham Hotspur to hurry up and offer him a new contract - if they think he is worth it.
The manager picked Spurs up from the bottom of the Premier League to an eighth-placed finish after taking over in October 2008 and has since achieved two fourths and a fifth spot in his three full seasons at the helm. His contract expires next summer, with talks over a new deal having stalled this year amid speculation linking Redknapp with the England job before Roy Hodgson was appointed Fabio Capello’s successor.
A run of one win in 11 games from February led to Tottenham relinquishing third place in the standings, which ultimately cost them a Champions League berth after Chelsea’s triumph in this year’s final.
The contract situation has shown no sign of resolution, with reports suggesting that all may not be well between Redknapp and Daniel Levy, the chairman, and that the manager could be on his way out of White Hart Lane.
Redknapp insisted that such talk was wide of the mark, but warned the club the uncertainty was not good for anyone.
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“I’ve never had a problem with Daniel Levy,” he said. “I’ve probably got on as well with Daniel as I could any... People keep talking about our relationship. I’ve never had a minute’s problem with Daniel Levy in terms of falling out with him or whatever. I don’t even know where that comes from.
“The simple situation is, I’ve got a year left on my contract. It’s up to Tottenham whether they want to extend that contract or not. If they don’t extend it and I go into my last year, it’s not an easy one when players know you’ve only got a year left.
“It’s not a case of me looking for security. What it’s about is players knowing you’ve only got year left on your contract and knowing that it doesn’t work, basically.
“I think it’s a situation of, ‘Well, he might not be here next year.’ You don’t let players run into the last year of their contract if you think they’re any good, and you don’t let managers run into the last year of their contract if you think they’re any good.
“It’s up to Tottenham. If they think I’m OK and I’ve done a decent job an deserve an extension, they’ll give it to me. If Daniel doesn’t think I’m worth it, that’s up to him, that’s up to the club. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
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On suggestions he could be heading to Qatar, he told Sky Sports News: “I don’t speak to anybody else - I’m under contract at Tottenham. I keep seeing something about Qatar - I’ve never even been to Qatar in my life!”
Redknapp was backed in his cause by Rafael van der Vaart who admitted it was vital the manager signed a new, ideally long-term, deal, insisting sustained success was linked to stability.
Asked if it was crucial that Redknapp signed a new deal, the Holland player said: “Yeah, I think so. He is doing a fantastic job, so I don’t see any problems.
“I think he’s going to sign a new contract - I hope so - and I think it’s also good for every team when they have a manager who’s there for many years. So I hope he stays.”
Van der Vaart’s own future has been the subject of speculation in recent days, with Schalke reportedly keen to acquire his services.
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“There’s always interest,” he said. “But I’m happy in England and I want to stay. In football, you never know, and that’s what I wanted to say and nothing more.”