Harry Redknapp has revealed just how close he came to accepting the Newcastle manager's job. Newcastle offered Redknapp a job in January but he stayed at Portsmouth and was appointed Tottenham boss two months ago.

"I was absolutely nailed on to go at one time, I had really made up my mind to go," Redknapp said.

"On the Friday night I was going to go.

"I went out with my wife and Frank Lampard Senior and his wife Pat for dinner, and I sat down and we had a chat. I just decided I was happy where I was at the time."

Turning down the Newcastle job led to accusations that Redknapp was not ambitious - something that spurred him on.

"When the Spurs job came, I thought 'I've turned it down once' and had heard people say I didn't want to take a challenge on and didn't want to manage a big club," Redknapp said.

"That irritates you because I've always taken on challenges at struggling clubs.

"I thought, 'Well, this is my last chance to manage a big club', so I had to take it.

"I have always taken challenges on. Who else would be stupid enough to leave Portsmouth for Southampton and then go back again?"