Redknapp claims 'there was no laughter at Tottenham' before his arrival

Jun 15, 2012 11:36:00 AM

The recently-sacked manager maintained that Spurs were "transformed in every respect" under his guidance, and thanked the fans for their support during his four-year tenure

Harry Redknapp has claimed that he made Tottenham "smile again" during his time at White Hart Lane.

The 65-year-old was sacked on Wednesday night, following the club’s failure to secure Champions League football next season, after nearly four years in charge.

And, in the aftermath, he has insisted that Spurs were "transformed in every respect" under his guidance.

"When I walked into the Tottenham training ground for the first time four years ago, the people there were scared of their own shadows," Redknapp wrote in his column for The Sun.

"I made that club smile again. It became a fun place to go to work. It was transformed in every respect.

"There was no laughter at Tottenham four years ago.

"If the club wants to go in a different direction now, that’s up to them. But, even if I say so myself, I did a fantastic job there."

When Redknapp took over in October 2008, Spurs were bottom of the Premier League and had not recorded a win in their opening eight games of the season.

And the former West Ham manager points out that he departs White Hart Lane on the back of a season where they were kept pace with Manchester City and United, the eventual top-two placed sides, for the majority of the campaign.

"I leave the club in great shape. They have a team which is capable of winning the Premier League in a couple of years’ time and I walk away with my head held high," he continued.

"I don’t know what more I could have done. No one was more loyal to Spurs than me."

And Redknapp reserved a special mention for the Spurs supporters, who, in light of the heavy speculation linking him with the England job, sang to urge him to stay during the 5-0 victory over Newcastle United in February.

He concluded: "I will never forget the Tottenham fans. They have been amazing to me.

"When I was going through my court case in February, the way they stuck by me was incredible. And when I had heart surgery, the messages were a real boost."

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