Harry Redknapp holds no grudges over his Tottenham departure

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The QPR manager was speaking ahead of his return to the club in the away dugout.

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has said he doesn’t ‘have the raging hump’ over the way he left the club.

Redknapp returns to White Hart Lane this weekend as manager of Queens Park Rangers, but many have suggested he shouldn’t have been let go after a tenure where he led Spurs into the Champions League, and finished in the top four on two occasions.

He reflected on the time he left the club, telling the London Evening Standard: “I went into negotiate a new contract and ended up leaving the club. I have my own ideas why it happened but perhaps you should ask the club why as they are in a better position than me to answer that question.

“People seem to think I have the raging hump about it but I don’t. It’s football and you have to deal with the good and bad side of it in equal measure.

“For whatever reason Daniel Levy wanted to make a change and with all due respect it’s his club and his right to do what he wants.

“If I bump into him on Sunday I’ll shake his hand. Why not? I don’t carry grudges, I’m not on some kind of revenge mission. I’ve spoken to Daniel numerous times since I left Tottenham so there is no issue. Let’s be honest there are far more important things going on in the world than this.”

Since Redknapp departed White Hart Lane, Spurs haven’t managed to break into the Champions League during the past two seasons. Andre Villas-Boas came very close in 2013, but was sacked in the December following that campaign after £100 million was spent on the squad along with the departure of key player Gareth Bale. Tim Sherwood took charge but only lasted until the end of the season as the club finished sixth – now Mauricio Pochettino is the man charged with bringing Champions League football back to the club.

Redknapp’s career saw him move on to QPR. After failing to keep the club in the Premier League when he was appointed midway through the 2012/13 season, Redknapp oversaw their return to the top flight with a late play-off final win over Derby County at Wembley last term.

The 67-year-old will be hoping his side can improve after their opening day defeat against Hull City at Loftus Road, where striker Charlie Austin had a penalty saved late on in the game.