Redknapp's wife 'stopped him getting England job'

The Daily Mirror claims that Redknapp's chances of getting the England manager's role "were relegated by his caring wife Sandra", leaving the way open for Roy Hodgson who was confirmed as England's new boss on Tuesday.

Citing sources "at the heart of the FA", the paper claims that the reluctance of the Tottenham boss's wife to relocate to the Midlands were the issue.

Neither Harry nor Sandra Redknapp are interested in moving from their mansion in Sandbanks, near Bournemouth, which boasts some of the most expensive houses in the UK. The pair remained at their south coast home even when Harry took the Tottenham job three and a half years ago, giving the 65-year-old a horrendous daily commute to Spurs training ground in Essex.

And it is in the commute that the problem lay: the FA are apparently keen that the new manager should be as much a manager of English football in general as merely a coach of the national team, however, and they had stipulated that the new boss must work from their new £100 million National Football Centre in Staffordshire.

Harry Redknapp was happy to take on the 400-mile daily commute to the Midlands, but Sandra was apparently so worried about her husband - who had heart surgery just six months ago - that she refused to let him do so. The rigours of a seven-hour daily drive, she feared, would be too much for him.

The paper adds that the issue made Hodgson "the only serious candidate" for the role, with the 64-year-old - who is originally from Croydon - already based in the Midlands.