Redknapp rues quitting Pompey

LONDON – Harry Redknapp admitted Sunday that he made a “monumental mistake” in leaving Portsmouth for Southampton a year ago.

Redknapp quit Saints Saturday claiming his position was untenable after chairman Rupert Lowe refused an approach by Pompey counterpart Milan Mandaric to speak to his former manager. And Redknapp said that despite his very public fall-out with Mandaric last season he would welcome a return to Fratton Park.”The last year has been the worst of my life and that is no exaggeration,” he told the Sunday Mirror.”I don’t know what possessed me to leave Portsmouth in the first place.I’m an emotional man at the best of times but I made a monumental mistake walking out of Fratton Park and a day hasn’t passed since I left the ground for the last time that I didn’t regret my decision.Redknapp added: “The only reason I remained at the club (Southampton) following relegation was I felt I owed it to the fans to get them back up but I would be a liar if I said my heart was in the job.* Meanwhile, Real Madrid are set to sack their Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxemburgo after an emergency meeting of club bosses yesterday, Spanish media reported.Club vice-president Emilio Butragueno and sporting director Arrigo Sacchi told Luxemburgo of the decision before training on Sunday morning, Cadena Ser radio and Antena 3 television reported.- Nampa-AFPAnd Redknapp said that despite his very public fall-out with Mandaric last season he would welcome a return to Fratton Park.”The last year has been the worst of my life and that is no exaggeration,” he told the Sunday Mirror.”I don’t know what possessed me to leave Portsmouth in the first place.I’m an emotional man at the best of times but I made a monumental mistake walking out of Fratton Park and a day hasn’t passed since I left the ground for the last time that I didn’t regret my decision.Redknapp added: “The only reason I remained at the club (Southampton) following relegation was I felt I owed it to the fans to get them back up but I would be a liar if I said my heart was in the job.* Meanwhile, Real Madrid are set to sack their Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxemburgo after an emergency meeting of club bosses yesterday, Spanish media reported.Club vice-president Emilio Butragueno and sporting director Arrigo Sacchi told Luxemburgo of the decision before training on Sunday morning, Cadena Ser radio and Antena 3 television reported.- Nampa-AFP