Aston Villa next manager: Harry Redknapp rules himself out of job and says club should look to lower leagues

'There are managers in the lower divisions, when are they going to get a chance?'

Tom Sheen
Wednesday 28 October 2015 08:57 EDT
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QPR manager Harry Redknapp
QPR manager Harry Redknapp (Getty Images)

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Harry Redknapp has said no to the prospect of managing Aston Villa and says the club should look at an English manager rather than abroad.

The former Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Portsmouth manager also appeared to note that his time was up and argued that it was chance for a manager from a lower division to have a crack at a Premier League job.

Frenchmen Remi Garde and Christophe Galtier are the current bookies' favourites to take over after Tim Sherwood was sacked at the weekend, while David Moyes, Nigel Pearson and Gus Poyet are also believed to be in the running.

"It’s a fantastic football club but I wouldn’t see myself getting that job,” Redknapp told talkSPORT.

“It would be difficult for me now, but it’s a great job for somebody. There are managers in the lower divisions, when are they going to get a chance?

“How are they ever going to manage at a top level unless they get their team promoted? If you’re managing in the Championship, the only way you’re going to get into the Premier League is if you take your team up.

“There are loads of lads down there who could do the job, they just need the opportunity.”

Villa are currently bottom of the Premier League with just four points from their 10 matches so far this season, and are without a win since the opening day.

But Redknapp, 68, believes the squad has the quality to avoid relegation.

“It’s going to be a great job for whoever gets it," he added. "It’s all there for somebody to have a real go and make a success of it, even though they have lost some key players.

"It’s very difficult when you lose key players and you can’t replace them. Even Manchester City look a different team without Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

“You still feel, though, that there’s enough there for Villa to stay up this year, and then hopefully you’ll get a bit of backing in the future and take the club forward again.”

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