Harry Redknapp has decided against having a personal security guard to protect him when he returns to Fratton Park with Tottenham on Saturday.

Redknapp will face a red-hot reception when he makes his first return to Portsmouth after leaving the club in controversial circumstances when he joined Tottenham almost a year ago.

Pompey fans questioned Redknapp's loyalty following his departure to Spurs just 24 hours before they were due to play Fulham at home.

They have never fully forgiven him for walking out on the club and joining bitter rivals Southampton back in 2004. Redknapp employed a former SAS soldier to look after him when he took the Saints to Fratton Park in January 2005 for their FA Cup win over Portsmouth, but has decided against any protection this time.

The Spurs boss hopes that there will not be any animosity and has encouraged players from both teams who have switched allegiance this season to celebrate if they score.

Tottenham will have former Pompey strikers Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch as well as midfielder Niko Kranjcar in their team, while Younes Kaboul and Kevin-Prince Boateng are expected to start for the home side having left White Hart Lane.

Redknapp said: “Celebrate your goal if you score, why shouldn't they? I bought Kaboul to Portsmouth two years ago and he is a terrific young player in my opinion, he has a big future and is a great signing for Portsmouth. If he scores, of course he has to celebrate, his allegiance is to Portsmouth now.

“Kevin Boateng is a young player with terrific ability and he can show that and I have always said that if he gets his head right, the sky is the limit for him because he is a good player — so if they score why shouldn't they celebrate?”

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is also hoping that the match passes off without incident and has pleaded with supporters to lay off Redknapp and not give him abuse.

Storrie said: “Obviously we all know what reaction he will probably get. I just hope the fans will be fair and realise the success that Harry brought to the club, which was tremendous.

“I know people say oh you're biased because he's your friend' but he has brought great success to this football club with the highest League position in post-war, seven years in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup.”

Redknapp has been given a boost prior to the match, with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King coming through a practice match yesterday.
Woodgate has been out since May with a groin injury and King has ongoing knee trouble.

Redknapp added: “Jonathan is back
in training, which is great news. We will now wait to see how he comes through that. Ledley is okay and, with Michael Dawson back, suddenly we have got three fantastic centre-halves and it makes us very strong there.”

But Wilson Palacios looks like missing the trip to the south coast. The midfielder lines up for Honduras against El Salvador tonight and won't be back in England until Friday morning.

Redknapp is also hoping that Roman Pavlyuchenko stays at Spurs despite reports linking him with a return to Russia in January. “He is a great player who is behind three other great strikers but I hope he stays,” said Redknapp.