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Harry Redknapp: Birmingham manager to sign one-year contract

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments131

Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp took charge of Jordan for two World Cup qualifiers last year

Harry Redknapp has agreed to stay as manager of Championship side Birmingham City and is expected to sign a one-year contract later this week.

The 70-year-old guided Blues to Championship safety at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Bristol City.

Redknapp took over on 18 April after Gianfranco Zola's departure.

The ex-West Ham, Tottenham and QPR boss led Birmingham to two wins in the final three matches as they avoided relegation to League One by two points.

Redknapp's first game in charge of Birmingham was a 1-0 defeat by West Midlands rivals Aston Villa - a result which left his team just one place above the relegation zone.

But successive wins to end the season over Huddersfield - where they played for more than an hour with 10 men - and Bristol City on the final day ensured their survival.

Meanwhile, Blues have appointed Jeff Vetere as director of football to "organise the recruitment strategy and offer support to the manager in identifying and signing players".

Vetere has held posts at several clubs, including Real Madrid, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa.

Analysis - Pat Murphy

Harry Redknapp's confirmed that he's agreed to manage Birmingham City on a one-year contract. He will review the situation with the club at the end of next season after signing the contract later this week.

Redknapp has been assured by the Chinese owners that sufficient funds will be available to strengthen a squad that nearly got Blues relegated.

Steve Cotterill and Paul Groves will continue assisting Redknapp. He's been locked in talks with the board since Sunday night.

Birmingham will be the furthest north that Redknapp's ever managed in his long career. Before that, it was Tottenham.

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131 comments

  • Comment posted by kdp273, at 21:52 10 May 2017

    There's some very bitter people on here spouting rubbish. He's 70, he lives in Bournemouth, does he need the money? No. He loves football, and he's still got a passion for it...and he's still evidently good at what he does. Enjoy the ride because there won't be many more seasons. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by Captain Francois Dubonais, at 21:02 10 May 2017

    28. Posted by ShaolinMOnk

    He'll take Bham to the cleaner. Will quit as soon as the going gets tough to preserve his record of never been relegated!
    Clubs just don't learn so will deserve everything that comes their way.
    ----------
    Claptrap. Spurs has 2 points from 8 games when he was appointed, he rid us of the dreaded Director of Football, finished 4th twice and left us very healthy thx.

  • Comment posted by 51mo, at 20:26 10 May 2017

    Rosie will be laughing all the way to the bank !

  • Comment posted by Perton66, at 20:42 10 May 2017

    The chequebook will be coming out. Hope theBlues owners have deep pockets!

  • Comment posted by villafan1988, at 20:36 10 May 2017

    Well, don't fire him when you get close to the top, wasn't the first time it happened to you when you got rid of your manager this season. Let's see if England's second city can actually get back to having some decent teams in it. Hate you 'orrible lot on match day but still a brummy team at the end of the day. See you next season!!

  • Comment posted by User0296767699, at 20:37 10 May 2017

    Look 👀 Peeps, Its very easy to show negatively. I've already seen degrading comments. What us blue nose fans want is nothing short of a top effort.
    Let's stop being the glass half full and wish for the best by giving positive support. We can judge Harry come next year but for now he did us a massive favour and saved us from the dreaded drop.
    BEST OF LUCK BOYZ 🤞

  • Comment posted by U16557196, at 20:30 10 May 2017

    He'll either get them promoted and win a cup with a team the club can't afford, and leave them bankrupt.

    Or he'll just leave them bankrupt.

  • Comment posted by Swimjim, at 08:46 11 May 2017

    Looking at it from the Claret & Blue side of the city I didn't want this appointment. BCFC under Zola was one of the few things Villa could cheer about.

    Banter aside, Harry is probably the right appointment for the Blues, will get them motivated and possibly challenging for the play offs. The whole Rowett affair was a shambles and despite being a Villa fan completely bewildering.

  • Comment posted by Geoff, at 20:21 10 May 2017

    We've got Redknapp, Harry Redknapp, I just don't think you understand
    He saved us from the drop, he'll take us to the top
    We've got Harry Redknapp

    One happy bluenose!

  • Comment posted by BG1962, at 22:00 10 May 2017

    He just saved the club from relegation so judge him at the end of next season. Dodgy or not he gets results! Good luck to him he could have spent all his days on a golf course but opted for the challenge of improving this clubs performance

  • Comment posted by User0798785369, at 22:15 10 May 2017

    He could have sat around, put his feet up aged 70 and enjoy his money and retirement. But he loves doing what he does so fair play to him.

  • Comment posted by riba, at 21:14 10 May 2017

    Villa fan-there in '82 an all that- This city needs Birmingham (Uncle a fan) Wolves, West Brom, all in the same league- it's good for business and police overtime!

  • Comment posted by jackoblue, at 22:38 10 May 2017

    welcome to St Andrews Harry, much appreciated you saved blues from the drop and have signed up for a season with blue, it will be a bit of roller coaster ride but that's what bluenoses are used to. KRO SOTV

  • Comment posted by MoreClaretThanBlue, at 21:03 10 May 2017

    Usual negative garbage from doughnuts who like to watch their negative rating grow. Interspersed with some good comments that are unfortunately lost in the crap. I think HYS has had its day. But on a brighter note Harry will do a good job for a season or two.

  • Comment posted by Largewomble, at 07:19 11 May 2017

    Some real clowns on here, managers don't own the profit and loss of the club, very often they don't sign the players or set the fees. This isn't football manager

  • Comment posted by CJN1168, at 21:50 10 May 2017

    Markthelegendinhisownmind back again with an insightful post. Harry is amongst the most productive and effective managers around at Div 1 standard. Birmingham got a good un and as such a great chance if they back him. Face it..... players at that league will want and be happy to play for him

  • Comment posted by Chapper1, at 21:36 10 May 2017

    Resepct to 'arry, but why the old guard?
    There was a really good young English manager available a few months back, Gary Rowett, but he's been snapped up by Derby

    Oh, hold on a minute
    !!!

  • Comment posted by Derek H, at 22:34 10 May 2017

    Harry is a good appointment for Birmingham. He has experience, connections and a positive outlook. They have agreed terms and strategy and are going to progress together. Too many negative comments which are predictable and not at all original. If you can't you do better than that then why bother posting!

  • Comment posted by steverobinson, at 22:09 10 May 2017

    Do hope that Pat Murphy is right and that Steve Cotterill and Paul Groves are staying on. The mix of the three of them is very powerful. The appointment of Jeff Vetere as Director of Football must have had the nod from Harry so that's another plus. With the prospect of spending a bit of money for the first time in years, Blues fans have every right to be cock-a-hoop right now.

  • Comment posted by Tracey Spare, at 23:30 10 May 2017

    If only HR had been apointed in December following the bizarre decision to sack Gary Rowett, who knows where Blues would have finished this season but we certainly would not have been fighting for Championship status last weekend. With Harry leading a very strong coaching team, quality players will want to come to Blues to play for Harry and a play-off spot must be the goal for next season.

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