Spurs confirm Redknapp appointment
Levy has swung the axe again at Spurs a year after appointing Ramos
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Sunday, 26, Oct 2008 07:52
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of Harry Redknapp as the replacement for manager Juande Ramos who was sacked late yesterday.
Redknapp admitted he had been contacted by Spurs at the end of last week and his appointment has since been announced by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
The appointment signals a complete overhaul of Spurs managerial and coaching structure. Ramos' coaching team, including Gus Poyet, have also left the club, while sporting director Damien Comolli has been sacked and will not be replaced.
Levy penned an open letter to the club's supporters following the announcement to address a series of issues that led to the dismissal of Ramos and appointment of Redknapp.
Levy said: "In appointing Harry Redknapp as our new manager, we are delighted to have secured the services of someone we have long since admired and whose track record and knowledge of all levels of football, including importantly the Premier League, is outstanding."
The Spurs chairman said that the club's current predicament, bottom of the Premier League with two points from seven games, was not the fault of one single person but that action had to be taken to keep them in the top flight.
He added: "Relieving Juande Ramos, our head coach, and Juande's assistants, Gus Poyet and Marcos Alvarez, of their posts is not something I have undertaken lightly.
"Damien Comolli has left the club with immediate effect. Damien will not be directly replaced."
Levy admitted that the failure to take decisive action during the summer transfer window to replace both Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov had not helped them at the start of the season.
The chairman claimed Keane had been sold because of his absolute desire to join his boyhood club and was not a financial decision.
Levy claims that money had some bearing on the sale of Berbatov because his contract could have been voided at the end of the current season had he not been sold due to a Fifa rule.
The chairman also revealed that Berbatov had been wanting to leave since last summer and that he had refused his initial request, hoping to convince the Bulgarian to stay.
Levy admitted: "Some of our decisions and judgements may at times be unpopular with our fans but we always take decisions we believe to be in the best interests of our club, at the time we make them, and for the right reasons."
Levy says he has spoken to key players at the club and expects them to start producing the types of performances that will lift the club up the league.
He also asked the fans to remain united behind the side during their time of need and to act as a positive force.
Levy wrote: "I have spoken to the senior players in recent days and I know the players share our frustration and I know they will dig deep to produce the performances we know they are capable of - they have our full support - and support for the team is absolutely critical at this time."
Spurs take on Bolton later today before a crucial match on Wednesday against bitter rivals Arsenal which should be Redknapp's first full game in charge of his new side.