Harry Redknapp "admitted his career as a football manager could be over" after he was sacked by League Championship side Birmingham City on Saturday, according to John Percy of the London TELEGRAPH. Redknapp "guided Birmingham to Championship survival on the final day of last season" but has paid the price for six successive defeats. Birmingham owner Trillion Trophy Asia sacked Redknapp by telephone. While Redknapp's dismissal "angered some supporters," it is understood that he was "close to being dismissed" after the 2-1 loss at Burton Albion on Aug. 18. The Birmingham board "wanted to sack him then" but was "persuaded to give him more time," eventually signing 14 players before the transfer window closed. Results have been "disappointing," while Redknapp's relationship with Dir of Football Jeff Vetere was also "thought to be fractious." Redknapp said, "I have loved being a manager and loved it at Birmingham but I doubt very much whether it will happen again" (TELEGRAPH, 9/17). The BBC reported Redknapp took charge at Birmingham in April and the club won its last two matches of the season to avoid relegation. He was one of three English Football League managers to leave his job on Saturday, with Chesterfield sacking Gary Caldwell and Port Vale parting company with Michael Brown. Redknapp: "I feel more sorry for the other lads in the lower leagues who lost their jobs" (BBC, 9/17). The London INDEPENDENT reported assistant manager Kevin Bond also left the club but coaches Paul Groves and Kevin Hitchcock stayed. Redknapp banked £250,000 for the final three games last season and signed a contract worth £1.75M ($2.38M) to take charge for this term. It is "unclear what the former West Ham and Portsmouth manager will get in compensation." The club handed Redknapp around £20M ($27.2M) "for the players he wanted before the transfer window closed just over two weeks ago." Agent Darren Dein "was heavily involved in the club's recruitment but it is unclear what his role will be at St Andrew's going forward," along with that of Vetere (INDEPENDENT, 9/17).
