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Redknapp: New stadium is crucial
Tom Collomosse20 Mar 2009
Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham's development of a new stadium must succeed for the club to join the elite of English football.
Spurs are pressing ahead with plans to build a
60,000-seater ground on the current White Hart Lane site and hope to submit a full planning application to Haringey Council “in the next few months”.
Redknapp is confident Spurs can eventually join tomorrow's opponents Chelsea as one of the Premier League's top clubs but insisted: “A new stadium is all-important. It is a must for the club.
“If you can attract the big crowds and fill a big stadium, the revenue you generate will go up. Tottenham are a very big club with a huge fan base. The move to Emirates Stadium has certainly benefited Arsenal.
“There is no reason why clubs like Spurs, along with Aston Villa and Everton, cannot push for a place in the top four but it is hard to establish yourself once you are there. You have to get there first and take it from there.”
As he prepares his team to face Chelsea tomorrow, Redknapp is confident that two more wins will be enough to finally stave off the threat of relegation.
Centre-backs Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate have shown fine form since Redknapp's arrival last October and the manager has backed Woodgate to end his two-year international exile by winning a call-up to the England squad for the matches against Slovakia and Ukraine.
The 62-year-old added: “There is no reason why Jonathan shouldn't be knocking on the door. With Matthew Upson currently out injured, I think he has a big chance of getting into the squad.
“His partnership with Ledley is among the best in the country. He has managed to stay fit this year and he has shown he is an outstanding player.”
Reader views (4)
Why more negative thoughts, i am a supporter of some 35yrs and a season ticket holder and for me REDKNAPP potenically could be the best manager since Burkinshaw. Levy backs every manager apart from the Mancs in recent years no one spends more on players our problem is we tend to buy the wrong ones but i think Harry will change that. For me three positions need filling form us to challenge the top four next season. A left back as cover Benny and left sided midfielder someone like downing and another striker because the facts are Bent will not be at Spurs next season regardless of his form
- Paul Alexander, CHELMSFORD, 20/03/2009 21:26
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Adrain - we are struggling along in mid-table & are out of all competitions, with qualification to the second rate UEFA cup a difficult task. We still have dead wood to dispose of & in my opinion Harry is'nt the long term answer. If our supporters are positive after Daniel Levy managed to dismantle all the excellent work of Martin Jol's reign, then pay a fortune to rebuild the team, then so be it. I for one am not. Dont be fooled by the financial accounts of the last 6 months which paint a rosy picture, presumably to appeal to any potential purchasers of the club. In reality the annual figures will take into account the cost of the acquisitions & the wages of Keane, Defoe, Chimbonda, Palacios & Cudicini. With Jol near the top of the league in Germany & in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup, its all very irritating. Maybe we should be positive fans, but after so many false dawns its difficult.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 20/03/2009 17:31
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Rob, mate, the chairmain has spent alot of money on players, some dead wood and seen too many managers leave. My friend, we need stability!!
New stadium some new positive supporters
- Adrian, london, 20/03/2009 16:31
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New Chairman, manager & players will help as well !
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 20/03/2009 13:15
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