Redknapp odds-on for England job as tax evasion charges dismissed
Published:Harry Redknapp has been cleared of the tax evasion charges that threatened to ruin his chances of succeeding Fabio Capello as England manager and it is therefore now just 1/3 that he takes over from the Italian in the national hotseat.
A flurry of bets in the minutes following the decision saw the price on the Tottenham boss slashed from an early 2/1 and he now looks the absolute outstanding candidate for the job.
Redknapp has guided his Tottenham side to third place in the Premier League this season, giving them an unlikely chance to win the title for the first time in their history.
He has made no secret of his desire to manage his country and has often outlined the fact that he could not turn down the opportunity should he be offered it.
The FA is long-believed to have coveted Redknapp, and with nothing now standing in their way of making an approach for the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss, who counts an FA Cup amongst his varied successes in the domestic game, an offer is expected in the not-too-distant future.
Some will question whether the move for Redknapp could occur sooner rather than later, with Capello’s immediate future in doubt after he voiced his concern over John Terry being stripped of the captaincy without his consultation.
Capello is meeting with FA chiefs today regarding the belittling manner which he has been treated, and while he is still expected to remain in charge for the European Championships, it is just 5/1 that he is replaced before that date.
With the FA reportedly set on appointing an Englishman this time round, Redknapp appears to blow his main competition out of the water, with respected managers such as Roy Hodgson and Alan Pardew lagging behind him in terms of their reputations in the game.
Even at such short odds, Redknapp now looks to be an absolute certainty to become the next England manager, and even at short odds of 1/3, he should be backed to take over from Capello.
