Saw this on a Spurs Forum
Source: Daily Express
THE Football Association are privately looking for another successor to Fabio Capello – because of fears that first choice Harry Redknapp could go to prison.
Redknapp faces “an unlimited” jail sentence if he is convicted of “cheating the public revenue” out of £40,000 when he goes on trial with Sheffield Wednesday owner Milan Mandaric at Southwark Crown Court next month.
And if that happens the straight-laced FA would shy away from someone with a criminal record no matter how much the fans want him.
Redknapp, who vehemently denies charges relating to when he and Mandaric were at Portsmouth, has made no secret that he would seriously consider the England job if it was offered.
But his chances – and fate – will depend on the judge who tries him and who could impose “an unlimited fine” instead if he is found guilty.
If the worst came to the worst the controversial Spurs boss could be locked up for a significant part of next season.
Spurs, who insist that the case has nothing to do with the job Redknapp is doing for them, would almost certainly support him and hand over the reigns to his assistant, Kevin Bond, as caretaker.
But the FA, who want to replace Capello with an Englishman when the Italian’s lucrative contract expires next year, would want their man to be squeaky clean.
In the meantime Redknapp is stepping up his efforts to assemble a White Hart Lane squad capable of winning at least a Champions League place next season – with or without him.
He has already signed veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel from Aston Villa and is also believed to be targeting Sunderland’s Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan after having a £10million bid for Ivorian striker Gervinho rejected by Lille.
Redknapp has been living under the threat of prison ever since police launched their probe into financial dealings at Portsmouth three years ago.
The Crown Prosecution Service alleges that he received two payments totalling £185,000 from Mandaric through a Monaco bank account.
He is charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue of approximately £40,000 by evading National Insurance contributions.
Mandaric is charged with tax evasion relating to the payment.