Redknapp returns as Bournemouth advisor

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp made a surprise return to the game on Friday after accepting an advisory role at League One club Bournemouth.

Redknapp was sacked by Spurs at the end of last season after falling out with chairman Daniel Levy and has been linked with several managerial jobs since then including his former club Southampton and the Russia national team post.

But the 65-year-old, who led Spurs to a fourth place finish in the Premier League last season, has been tempted back to work by a less glamourous position as an advisor to another of his old clubs.

Redknapp began his managerial career with Bournemouth in 1983, helping them escape relegation from the Football League in his first season before masterminding a shock FA Cup win over holders Manchester United in 1984.

He also won the old Third Division title in 1986-87 and the former West Ham boss has jumped at the opportunity to help out one of his local clubs -- Redknapp lives nearby in the exclusive Sandbanks area -- on a temporary basis.

Redknapp, who has agreed to act as a sounding board for manager Paul Groves and his staff, will travel with the squad to Saturday's League One clash with Yeovil at Huish Park.

He has not signed a contract and will not be paid, citing his passion for the game as the reason behind his return.

"It keeps me involved. I enjoy watching football and if I wasn't playing golf, I'd be sitting around," Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

"I love football. I'm a football watcher, I have loved it all my life and it is what I do.

"I will stop and watch kids playing football in the park if I'm passing. It takes me 10 minutes to get to Bournemouth's ground and it's a club that is close to me."

Groves and his assistant Shaun Brooks were members of Redknapp's backroom team during his second spell as Portsmouth manager when the club won the FA Cup in 2008.

And Redknapp insisted he had no intention of elbowing Groves out of a job.

"(Bournemouth chairman) Eddie Mitchell asked if I'd go along and add some experience to Paul Groves, who I think is an outstanding young manager," Redknapp said.

"I've said I can't commit or give any long-term commitment but, in the next month or two, I am only too pleased to go along. I can't play golf every day!

"Paul has been ringing me asking me to go down anyway. I won't be going in the dressing room.

"This is on a voluntary basis. There is no contract or money and I'll go to games when I can, or pop along to training. I love being involved in football and it's a club I have a lot of affection for."