Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has stated that the signature of Scott Parker in the summer was a personal victory for him, as some board members were opposed to his addition at White Hart Lane.
The England international joined Spurs from London rivals West Ham for a fee in the region of £5.5 million, and has been a major factor in four straight league victories for Redknapp’s men.
Despite Parker winning the FWA Footballer of the Year award last term, a number of Tottenham executives were against his signature due to the midfielder’s age.
“The hardest signing for me was Scott Parker,” Redknapp told The Telegraph.
“It wasn’t a deal that the club were crazy about, and I could see their point of view. Scott had a four-year contract at West Ham and he was on big money, by our standards. Tottenham don’t pay the wages that Chelsea or Manchester City do, so there would be quite a gap.
“There was a feeling that bringing in Scott, 31 years of age and with no sell-on value, could be a problem. I argued that it was what he could give us this year and next that could make the difference. Daniel [Levy] backed me on that,” he stated.
Tottenham have a tricky away game against Newcastle this weekend at St James’ Park, who have also had a strong start to the campaign.
By Gareth McKnight
Football News 24/7
He has worked out very well for spurs!
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That’s what Harry does. He spends a load of money, wins nothing and gets recognition as a great manager. Do you know that up until this past summer only Chelsea and City had spent more on transfers than Spurs over the previous 15 seasons. Any other manager with no success after such expenditure would be out of a job. It’s astonishing how he is able to manipulate his own reputation. Now some people even consider Harry as a potential England manager, please no not another Steve Mclaren.
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Not really fair to blame the spending of the previous 15 seasons on Redknapp when he has only been around for 3. This summer he sold more than he bought.
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Harry Redknapp has only won an FA Cup during his managerial career. Hardly the credentials for an international manager. Besides, no manager has walked out on more clubs than Redknapp – creating difficulties for them. He WILL walk out on Tottenham and leave them in the lurch when something better comes along. If he becomes England Manager, he’ll only see it as springboard to another job – a job abroad like with McClaren. He’ll milk it and then quit. Quitting is what he does. No club should rely on him.
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