Harry Redknapp has admitted he was wrong to embarrass Darren Bent when he said after the Tottenham striker missed a sitter: “My missus could have scored it”.

Bent headed wide against Portsmouth in January, despite having the whole of the goal to aim for. The game ended 1-1 and Redknapp revealed his frustration at the astonishing miss with his infamous jibe.

Today, though, the Spurs boss said: “I must admit I think I made a mistake after one game, I did cane them a bit.

“I didn't get a response from that, and someone I respect told me that wasn't my style.
“I criticised a few of the players and it really doesn't work for me, it's not really the way I manage.

“I get more out of the players by telling them what they can do rather than what they can't do. That has always been my way. They responded but I felt that was a mistake on my part. I felt I rectified that and lifted them and we've gone on from there.”

Bent has scored 17 goals this season but he has still been linked with a move in the summer. The former Charlton striker is among the players that are not automatically guaranteed a starting place — but Redknapp feels competition is healthy and his club is the place to be for those outside the top four.

“I think this is the club to play at, there are only the top four, other than that they couldn't do any better than Tottenham,” he said.

“I'd stay, I'd stay and fight for my place. It's a club going places and we could have a great season next year. It's a squad capable of pushing the top four.

“We need a few new additions in a couple of areas. They are the areas I want to improve.”

Didier Zokora, meanwhile, has dropped a strong hint he could seek to leave Spurs this summer.

The Ivory Coast international has not started a game for the club since he was substituted during the first half of the 2-1 win at Aston Villa on 15 March.

Since then, Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone have both moved ahead of Zokora in the race to partner Wilson Palacios in central midfield.

Zokora said: “The World Cup is in June 2010 and I can't be sitting on the bench if I want to be in the Ivorian squad. All my career, I have been first choice.”