Lack of Transparency Cost Harry his Job
There are moments in life where you set aside important decisions hoping that once forgotten, they will not have to be addressed. Ultimately the time comes when these imperative judgements will have to be dealt with. If left too long, these decisions acquire their own baggage which only greater confuse the situation. The FA exemplified this when coming to a decision on the new England manager. A decision that was so delayed in its conclusion that the FA and their lack of transparency was questioned more than ever before.
The media circus that surrounded the vacant national managers post was overwhelming. This was undoubtedly fuelled by the lack of decision making prowess from the FA. When Capello left his duties on the 8th February this year, the outright favourite of fans and pundits alike was Harry Redknapp, with some bookmakers stopping all bets on the Spurs Manager becoming the new National Coach. No one could escape the rumours, especially the Tottenham players and staff who must have been aware of the uncertainty surrounding their popular managers future. With Redknapp previously asserting that he would have to accept the England job if it was offered to him, it seemed only a matter of time before he received his dream position. Days went past and still no word from The FA as to whom the next manager would be. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s unexpectedly scintillating season, was taking a turn for the worst. It seemed no coincidence that as soon as the England position became available and Redknapp was named as favourite, Spurs’ form deteriorated. However, finally, nearly 3 months after Capello’s resignation, the FA announced Roy Hodgson as the new England manager. It seemed peculiar to most when the Chief Executive David Bernstein stated that Hodgson was the only man approached in lieu of the vacancy.
The lack of transparency shown by the FA in the 3 month period where the country were without a manager, must have caused such uproar in the Tottenham camp. The whole debacle has indirectly cost Redknapp his job. Did Levy assume that his teams manager would leave as was reported in almost every national newspaper? Had the Tottenham chairman arranged a replacement for Harry after the misjudged inevitability of an approach for his services? With Redknapp publicly declaring his understandable desire for the England job, higher powers at Spurs may have felt that his burning passion for the position at White Hart Lane was extinguished, when he was not approached by his country.
To avoid the criticism that has been thrown toward the FA, Bernstein and Co. should have either made an immediate decision and discounted other managers whom they were not interested in. If Hodgson was the only choice for the vacancy, why were the FA so tight lipped when questioned about Redknapp? If the former West Ham player was not contacted, Bernstein should have announced this to the media. It felt as if the FA were reluctant to discount the nations first choice of manager, in order to avoid negative comments about the governing body and an instant disapproval of their chosen coach.
Ultimately, the FA must have had an impact on Tottenham’s decision to part with Harry Redknapp. So much explanation is required for their scarcity of communication during some of the most important months for the national team this millennia. However, true to form, expect the FA to remain quiet or totally remove themselves from the debacle that has culminated in one of the most surprising managerial removals in recent memory.
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