The boot room: Perhaps Redknapp's destiny is not to manage his country

They say Brian Clough was the greatest England manager that never was. But Cloughie, now sadly departed, may just have a challenger to that claim in Harry Redknapp.

Seemingly the only English boss deemed fit to manage the national team and backed by the likes of Steven Gerrard to succeed Fabio Capello, the wheels of Redknapp's candidacy have well and truly fallen off in recent weeks.

Not only has the Spurs coach been summoned to face trial in January on charges for allegedly cheating the taxman, but the amiable Londoner, aged 64, has also had time off for heart surgery. He returns to the bench tonight for Tottenham's clash with Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

This double whammy will surely end what was meant to be a career defining moment — either leading England in a European Championship or to the World Cup. Like Cloughie, never quite the FA man, through health or alleged suspect wealth Redknapp may be back off the radar.

As a Bournemouth fan I've grown up with Redknapp's teams, watching his career start off from the terraces at Dean Court to West Ham, Portsmouth, Southampton and now Spurs. Everywhere he's gone he's worked magic — yes, relegating Southampton still counts as magic.

England stand to lose tenfold by not capitalising on his knowledge of the game and the FA's continual dalliance in appointing the people's choice will go down in football's history as another one of those what ifs.

Better legacy

Redknapp not managing England will be like Manny Pacquiao never fighting Floyd Mayweather or Esha Ness never winning the Grand National despite crossing the line first in 1993. But perhaps it's for the best. The poisoned chalice that is managing England has tarnished many a reputation. What with ‘Turnip' Graham Taylor and ‘Wally with the Brolly' Steve McClaren, Redknapp may be best to trust the way his current predicament denies him the job and rest assured that never taking the job is a better legacy.

We only remember the worst — Clough is known for being sacked by Leeds after 44 days. In hindsight that's not as bad as the way his much-famed predecessor at United, Don Revie, went on to bottle it as England manager then face mass allegations of impropriety.

Everyone strives for something more but sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead.