Football: Climbdown by Redknapp after transfer tirade
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Your support makes all the difference.HARRY REDKNAPP last night apologised to West Ham's chief executive, Peter Storrie, and the rest of the Upton Park board for his outburst over the transfer of Andy Impey to Leicester City.
The Hammers' manager attended a board meeting where clear-the-air talks were held. Storrie said: "Harry has apologised for his comments. We have shaken hands and he has said he regrets the things he said yesterday.
"Harry was just concerned because he wanted to play the player in yesterday's game at Derby, but he realises now that he got too heated and said some unnecessary things.
"Harry accepts that this transfer is necessary and is now happy about the situation. I have had a very close working relationship with Harry for the past five years and we both want to carry on working closely together for the good of the club. We are all very happy this has been resolved, and everyone is friends again."
Storrie had earlier criticised Redknapp and accused him of scaremongering because the Upton Park manager had said he feared that players like Rio Ferdinand may be sold.
"It is absolute nonsense," said Storrie. "I think the truth of the matter is that he didn't like being overruled. We had to get a certain amount of money in to balance the books and they are now balanced. Harry always knew we had to do this from the start of the season.
"Harry wears his heart on his sleeve and you have to put up with that at times, but it is disappointing. The worst comment he made was saying someone like me didn't know anything about football. That is insulting and it is nonsense.
"He is saying unless you've played professional football you know nothing about the game. But there have been top managers who have never played the game, and on the other side there have been top-level players who became bad managers. That is a personal insult on me and he doesn't know what he is talking about. It is nonsense."
Impey was due to have a medical last night and is expected to complete his transfer to Filbert Street today.
Despite Storrie's words yesterday, Redknapp may yet be obliged to sell another player. There were reports last night that a second sale may be demanded by the board. The West Ham manager is unhappy about the position - and could be pushed to the brink if his bosses decide the identity of the next player to leave.
Redknapp was hoping to move out a fringe man - but he may have to let the striker John Hartson or the midfielder Eyal Berkovic go instead.
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