Heart surgery won’t force Harry into retirement, insists Bond
TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp is recovering after minor heart surgery but he won’t be forced to consider early retirement, according to his assistant Kevin Bond.
Redknapp was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with a cardiac problem and had two stents inserted to unblock coronary arteries on yesterday.
Spurs have already announced that the 64-year-old will be discharged from hospital in the next 48 hours and the former Southampton and Portsmouth boss himself has said that he wants to return to the dugout for Spurs’ London derby at Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
However, doubts have been raised on the long-term managerial prospects of Redknapp, who joins colleagues Sir Alex Ferguson, Gerard Houllier and Sam Allardyce to undergo heart surgery, but his assistant Bond is not too concerned.
“This will not knock Harry’s desire to manage, no chance,” he explained.
“It won’t happen. You give him two days off and he will come back rejuvenated.
“It’s nothing really for us to worry about. It’s happened. The procedure has come and gone. I have spoken to Harry and he is fine.
“While no one wants to see anyone have any type of operation, it is a simple procedure and hopefully he will be back within a couple of days so everything will be fine.”
Redknapp will miss tonight’s Europa League tie in Russia against Rubin Kazan but former Arsenal defender William Gallas and South Africa international Stephen Pienaar are likely to make their first appearances of the season having recovered from long-term injury.
Tottenham will qualify for the last 32 if they win in Kazan and Bond hopes three points will also put a smile on Redknapp’s face.
“It would certainly lift his spirits if we were able to bring him home some points from the game tomorrow,” Bond added.