Ledley King: It's about time we had an English boss

Bottom-of-the-table Spurs beat Bolton 2-0 at White Hart Lane, just hours after chairman Daniel Levy had sacked Spaniard Juande Ramos and replaced him with Eastender Harry Redknapp.

Sporting director Damien Comolli (French), assistant manager Gus Poyet (Uruguyan) and fitness coach Marcos Alvarez (Spanish) were also all shown the exit door.

Redknapp, who will be in sole charge of all buying and selling of players, has already appointed one English coach in Kevin Bond and will name former England international Tim Sherwood as his assistant manager this week.

Redknapp's son Jamie could also be joining the staff and King believes the new policy was long overdue, with David Pleat the last Englishman in charge in 2004. He said: "It is brilliant to have an English manager. It has been a while and I am looking forward to the relationship.

"Harry spoke to us for the first time on the morning of the game, and he gave us confidence. He said we had brilliant players in the team, and that he believed we could get out of this situation.

"It looked like a weight had been lifted off the players' shoulders. They played with freedom, and it was more like the old Tottenham."

Skipper King was playing his first League match since 31 August his second match in the space of four days and wants to play against Arsenal in the North London derby on Wednesday.

That would defy medical opinion that suggested the captain would not be able to play two games in a week because of a chronic knee complaint.

Redknapp wants King to be his leader, though, and needs him on the pitch for as many games as possible in order to have a realistic chance of maintaining their top-flight status.

King added: "I felt I could [play two games in succession]. Until you do it, you don't know, but now it's done, hopefully people will stop talking about it.

"It is important not to get carried away, and I am not about to try to play every game just yet. Will I be able to play at Arsenal on Wednesday? We'll see."

Redknapp has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal, although the former West Ham boss has indicated he would walk away from White Hart Lane if he failed to keep the club up.

The deal is thought to be worth about £3m per year, while Spurs had to fork out £5million in compensation to Portsmouth.

Peter Storrie, Portsmouth's chief executive, also confirmed that there was nothing in writing to prevent Redknapp raiding Fratton Park for playing talent such as ex-Spurs star Jermaine Defoe.

The 26-year-old, who was also with Redknapp at West Ham, refused to be drawn on his own future. He did, however, concede that Redknapp's move to White Hart Lane had come as a surprise.

"It was a shock," he said. "But you've just got to get on with it. You've still got to play, the world doesn't stop. It happens and good luck to him.

Redknapp faces a massive test on Wednesday after the Gunners showed they are moving into top gear with a 2-0 win at West Ham yesterday.

Robin van Persie insisted after the game that Redknapp's arrival would make no difference to them.

He said: "I don't know and honestly I don't really care (what's happening at Spurs). We have our own team and we play whoever shows up. I am aware of their new manager Harry Redknapp so we will see what happens.

"The game against Tottenham is one on its own it doesn't matter where they stand."