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Redknapp: Why I was Sacked!

Former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp has finally revealed why he was sacked from his managerial position at the end of last season.

Speaking in a no-holds barred interview with the Independent, Redknapp revealed his version of the events which led to his dismissal last May.

And far from it being a row over money as had been suggested, Redknapp revealed that an interview given with Hammers fanzine OLAS was the final straw.

"I'd agreed a new four-year contract with the club, but then I did a thing with a fanzine that he didn't like," said Redknapp.

"Four lads came in one Friday and I sat there chatting to them like I am now. They said: 'The chairman says you've spent £14m of Rio's money.' I said: 'He can't f***ing add up, it's only £9m'.

"Anyway, the chairman read it. He reads all the fanzines, looks at everything on the internet. And he took the hump.

"So the following week, after we'd beaten Southampton on the Saturday, I walked in to see about my contract, and he says: 'I'm not happy with you, Harry, I'm going to call it a day.' I said: 'OK, if that's how you feel. I've got two years left on my contract. You'd better make sure you sort me out.'

"And that was it. Shame. I got on well with Terry Brown. And I still like him. I hold no grudges. I never felt sorry for myself, either, although I did for Frank (Lampard).

"Brown said: 'Frank goes with you.' And I said: 'No, he goes with West Ham, he's more West Ham than you'll ever be'."

Redknapp also revealed that it was the decision of the board - and not him - to sell Rio Ferdinand - a decision which many fans believe was the beginning of all the club's current problems.

"I didn't want to sell Rio, no," he says. "But the chairman wanted to take £15m for him.

"He said: 'Look, Harry, the transfer system's falling apart, we'll never get this offer again.' I said: 'Listen, they'll come back with more. And if it's not them then Barcelona will buy him, because he's the best.'

"Brown said: 'I can't see that.' But sure enough Leeds came back three weeks later with £18m.

"So they made £3m there, West Ham. The chairman said: '£18m, Harry, we've got to take it.' And I said: 'Yeah, I see that.'

"I wanted to spend it all," he adds. "I wanted Robbie Keane for maybe £10m, and went out to Italy to try and get him, but he'd made up his mind he was going to Leeds.

"And I had a £6m deal lined up for Laurent Robert. I thought he was different class. I was looking to play him and Sinclair in wide positions. That would have been fantastic."

Redknapp also revealed that despite all the problems and animosity associated with his departure, he would jump at a chance to return to Upton Park.

"I'd go back there tomorrow," he said. "West Ham is my club."