Goal.com

The QPR manager faces his former club on Saturday afternoon with Andre Villas-Boas' Spurs team flying high in third position, but he insists he is 'loving it' at Loftus Road

QPR manager Harry Redknapp believes his departure from Tottenham last summer was a "political" decision by the club, but says he is "loving it" at Loftus Road despite being bottom of the Premier League.

The 65-year-old was a candidate for the England job after Fabio Capello resigned, but Roy Hodgson was selected and Redknapp lost his job at White Hart Lane after the Three Lions speculation and a high-profile court case destabilised Spurs' season.

However, he has praised his successor at Tottenham, Andre Villas-Boas, for the "fantastic job" he has done already at the club, and believes they have the quality to win the title.

"I've got my own feelings about why things happened but it's difficult for me to say - it was political," he told reporters.

"I went to see [Spurs chairman] Daniel [Levy] about signing a new contract and that was it, it ended with me leaving. That's life, isn't it? I was supposed to be getting the England job, then I didn't. It happens.

"There are people out there with little kids suffering from leukemia so this is nothing, and what has actually happened to me? I had four great years there and got very well paid.

"I've now come to QPR, don't get so well paid but I'm here and I'm loving it."

Redknapp has reportedly been interested in a number of his former players at Spurs, but he is under no illusions he will be granted any special favours by Levy.

"Let's not kid ourselves. Daniel's not going to say: 'Good old Harry, let's help him out. I love QPR.' He isn't going to give us a special deal because it's me. He'll look to get whatever he thinks someone's value is, that's what he does.

"January is his time of year. He'll be offering those 'three for one' deals, or buy one get one free, on the last day. That's how he works."

While tensions have steadily bubbled away between Redknapp and Villas-Boas over recent weeks, the Englishman says the Portuguese has done a fine job with the club, and has tipped them for future trophies.

"I think they can win the league. They've got a stronger squad than Arsenal, and they're not far off Chelsea. They're a club who can keep improving and they'll go for it.

"I wouldn't have done any better than [Villas-Boas] has done. He's done a fantastic job, getting the best out of a great squad. Good luck to them - I hope they win the league one day.

"I'm not a jealous, bitter, twisted person about anybody. People have taken liberties with me in my life like you'd never believe but I forgive and forget and shake hands," he added.