Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is urging fans to go easy on ex-Pompey boss Harry Redknapp when he returns with Tottenham at the weekend. It will be the first time the 62-year-old has been back to Fratton Park since controversially walking out in October last year.

He will be accompanied by a Spurs team containing Pompey old boys Peter Crouch, Niko Kranjcar and, if fit, Jermain Defoe.

Storrie asked fans to retain a sense of perspective and remember what he did for the Blues.

He told The News: "Obviously we all know what reaction he will probably get.

"I just hope the fans will be fair and realise the success that Harry brought to the club, which was absolutely tremendous.

"I know people say "oh you're biased because he's your friend" but he has brought great success to this football club: the highest league position in post-war, seven years in the Premier League, winning the FA Cup - you can't have any more than that.

"Harry's a top-quality manager and I think there will be a lot of people here who will appreciate that. Yes, obviously he will get some sort of stick and he knows that but I think you have to remember the job he's done for the club.

"He has always openly said that if what he perceived to be a big job came along he would like that opportunity - and he's doing that very successfully.

"I just hope there's a balance in the fans' reaction at the game.' Regardless of the anger towards Redknapp, he will still be regarded as one of the most successful managers in Pompey's history.

Storrie added: "He's getting great success at Tottenham and I hope that continues. Well, apart from two games against us. Then he can have all the success he wants."