Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has backed Joe Kinnear to be handed the Newcastle United job long-term.

Redknapp and Kinnear are both 61 and have known each other since they were 15. Redknapp said: "Joe surprised a lot of people by going to Newcastle and getting them to play well.

"I'd like to see him get the job full-time. You don't have to go and get a sexy manager to do a job, Joe's proved that again. He's done the job.

"I think it shows managers like us can do the job. People tend to panic and want to go and get a foreign manager; a big name. Portsmouth had a go with a foreign manager and ended up in an almighty mess.

"Hopefully people will look at it at big clubs and think they're not all marvellous abroad. There's enough good people over here to give jobs to.

"I've known Joe for years and years, I remember him saying one day when he was manager at Wimbledon that he hoped I stayed up at West Ham, as it was always three easy points for him!"