HARRY REDKNAPP IS a better choice than Roy Hodgson for England manager, Geoff Hurst said today.
Tottenham boss Redknapp was widely favoured for the position, but the Football Association revealed yesterday they were set to hold talks with Hodgson.
Hurst, a World Cup winner with England in 1966, said he felt Redknapp should be given the job ahead of his West Bromwich Albion contemporary.
“I think Harry just has the edge, if I’m honest, in terms of managing a club in the Champions League, you need that experience,” Hurst said. ”You need that experience in the level just below the national side, the Champions League. I think that’s been a positive experience for Harry.
“I think it may be difficult for Roy if he feels that he isn’t the obvious choice. There’s no getting away from it — he’s a very good manager, he’s an experienced manager and he’s a very good manager — without any shadow of a doubt.
“But look at the Liverpool experience, where he wasn’t the popular choice at the time, it ended in disaster. It doesn’t take anything away from him as a manager. He’s a fantastic man and a fantastic manager.”
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew believes the FA will speak to Redknapp before hiring anyone. Hurst said Redknapp would be disappointed, and also believes the 65-year-old is keen to take the reins.
“I think he’ll be hugely disappointed after everyone in the country thought that he was going to be the man that the FA would talk to. It’s understandable that he will be disappointed,” Hurst said.
“I think he wanted the job. I don’t speak to Harry regularly, but knowing what I know about him, he would have wanted the job and would have taken the job — subject to everything being correct. He’ll be hugely disappointed and you must be when you expect you will be at least interviewed for the job.”
