Redknapp charged

Former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp will face legal action next month regarding financial irregularities, it has been confirmed.

The news was revealed on Tottenham Hotspur's website this evening. A statement posted after Spurs' 2-0 win at Blackburn read:

"The following statement has today (Saturday) been issued by solicitors, BCL Burton Copeland, acting for Manager, Harry Redknapp:

'Harry Redknapp is extremely surprised and disappointed to have been informed that HMRC intend to institute proceedings against him in the week commencing 11 January 2010. We believe that the decision to commence proceedings will, in due course, be shown to have been totally misconceived.'

The Club considers this matter to be a private, tax issue which pre-dates Harry's employment with the Club and which is not related to football matters. His position remains unaffected and he has the full support of the Club."

Redknapp was arrested two years ago in relation to his financial affairs when his home was raided by City of London police. He later won £1,000 damages after fraud charges were dropped, and the police said to have acted unlawfully.

The former Irons winger has long been the subject of rumour and innuendo regarding shady dealings and his business affairs were extensively examined and questioned in Tom Bowers' book Broken Dreams - without any specific allegations being made.

Redknapp also has a history of leaving clubs in finanicial turmoil; Bournemouth, West Ham, Southampton and now Portsmouth have all suffered critical financial problems in the years following Redknapp's employment.

* Redknapp, who was linked with a move for West Ham captain Matthew Upson earlier this week has been told that he has to sell before he can buy by Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy.