Bombadil

True. I'm desperately and knowingly clutching at straws when I interpret their running it as their main story and using the title "Redknapp out of Newcastle running" as a good sign. Maybe that suggests that they are fairly certain Redknapp really is out of the running. Hope springs eternal and all that...

Look at the state of him, man!

There's not a chance in hell that Ashley would appoint Jol, given what his "best mate" thinks about the man. What a joke though, Spurs sack a decent manager and get Ramos, we sack ours and get Redknapp. I'd rather have Shearer and Keegan.

Unfortunately, that means nothing.

I'm not sure tbh. I think no-one seriously expects the likes of Mourinho and Lippi to even consider the job, but I would think there are other managers in Europe who could easily be persuaded to manage one of the Premier League's wealthier and bigger clubs.

Sums up my feelings. For what it's worth, here's Redknapp's recent record: West Ham 1997/98 8th 1998/1999 5th 1999/2000 9th 2000/2001 15th (sacked after 37 games) Portsmouth (1st spell) 2002/2003 1st, promoted to Premier League 2003/2004 13th 2004/2005 resigns in November Southampton 2004/2005 20th, relegated after taking over in December Portsmouth (2nd spell) 2005/2006 17th after taking over in November 2006/2007 9th

You can bet your life I will be "negative" if Harry Redknapp is our next manager. This is the man who "discovered" Amdy Faye FFS.

Someone call 'Arry and threaten to butcher his dogs if he takes the job.

Redknapp has had two years at Pompey though and he's had a bit of money to spend as well, whereas Allardyce has only had eight months. And overall I'd say Allardyce's track record is better than Redknapp's.

100% that he's our no. 1 target, or that it's happening(i.e. Arry is interested)? All three what a load of shite. Some Newcastle fan on Sky just said they wanted Hughes or Tony Mowbray. To be honest Gol, your ITK record isn't up to much , but if you're right, then I will be absolutely gutted. Harry Redknapp, FFS.

Please don't let it be Redknapp, please.

Promotion with Bournemouth? And that's a guess. That's about it, yes, I've just had a look at his Wikipedia entry. In a way Redknapp, too, is just another flavour of the month manager - his CV isn't particularly impressive at all.

Out of interest, has Redknapp actually ever won anything as a manager?

Translates as "no comment". You have to admire Oliver's prose.

I agree with that. Shearer shouldn't get the job, but I'd have him ahead of Redknapp, Hughes and McLaren.

Could it be that Allardyce was told he wouldn't be given much money to spend, and went to Ashley to say "If you don't support me, you may as well sack me now rather than wait until the end of the season", which Ashley then did?

You're being way too diplomatic there tbh.

Sky aren't saying it on the telly, but from what the Sky blokes in the Back Page earlier were saying, they reckon it'll be Redknapp.

Get a grip man FFS! I had to laugh

From the BBC's chief football editor Phil McNulty, who has taken a break from wanking over Liverpool, to come out with this:

What he said.

What do people see in Hughes? When Roeder left at the end of last season, I preferred Allardyce over Hughes (and Redknapp, McLaren and all the other mediocre British managers) any day of the week. I will be absolutely gutted if we get Hughes.

I'm still in a state of shock tbh! But for God's sake, don't let it be Harry fucking Redknapp.