Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that manager Harry Redknapp has left the club to join Tottenham Hotspur after he was approached for the manager's job.
Pompey received an official approach from Spurs. Club owner Alexandre Gaydamak and chief executive Peter Storrie spoke to Redknapp and reluctantly granted permission after it became abundantly clear that Harry wanted the opportunity to talk to the north London club.
Storrie said: "Harry is a great manager and we, of course, did not want him to leave. We tried everything we could to keep him at Portmouth.
"However, he made it clear that although he has achieved great success here at Fratton Park, apparently Spurs is one of the only clubs he would consider leaving for.
"We have subsequently agreed a substantial compensation package with Spurs, although our overwhelming desire would have been to retain the manager.
"On his return to Fratton Park, Harry performed a near miracle in keeping us in the top flight and we have since gone on to become an established top ten side. Last season we won the FA Cup for the first time in nearly 70 years and qualified for European competition for the first time.
"Everyone at the club has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Harry and he has been a very good friend to me personally.
"The last thing I wanted was to see Harry leave this club but the lure of Spurs proved too much for him to turn down."
Gaydamak added: "I am personally very disappointed that Harry has left. We did all we could to keep him and up until early evening Saturday I was under the impression that he would be staying as Portsmouth manager."
Assistant manager Tony Adams and first team coach Joe Jordan will be in charge for the Premier League game agaist Fulham at Fratton Park later today.
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