“Whoever he was,” says Keys, who w̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶m̶p̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶L̶e̶a̶g̶u̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶M̶a̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶U̶n̶i̶t̶e̶d̶ presents a TV show in Qatar
The world of football has many, varied characters and two people occupying the role of Crusty Old Man are at odds with eachother over Financial Fair Play. Step forward, Richard Keys and Harry Redknapp.
Let’s set the scene. Birmingham City are in a financial fuckstorm. The Midlands club are being threatened with a 12-point deduction for overspending after their accounts revealed a £37.5 million loss for the year ending June 2018.
Redknapp, Blues boss for five months in 2017, responded in the Daily Telegraph, claiming he was not to blame. Apparently he was “never warned” by the club’s owners about Financial Fair Play and transfers were taken care of by people “above [his] head”.
Step forward former Sky Sports presenter and current BeIN banter merchant Keys.
“Of course he didn’t,” tweeted the 61-year-old under Redknapp’s quotes.
“Same bloke f****d up QPR, Pompey & West Ham & might have done at Spurs but for Daniel Levy. Let’s hope he’s out of the game now and can’t do any more damage – whoever he was.”
Of course he didn’t. Same bloke f****d up QPR Pompey & West Ham & might have done at Spurs but for Daniel Levy. Let’s hope he’s out of the game now and can’t do anymore damage – whoever he was. pic.twitter.com/v3l8ps9lx7
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) March 21, 2019
Ouch. That’s the man who brought the 1999 Intertoto Cup to Upton Park you’re talking about.
Now, Redknapp is well known for taking something of an ignorance is bliss approach to finances, just ask his dog, but his lack of say in the club’s transfer dealings was reflected in Birmingham’s slightly odd swoop for three Brentford players in the summer of 2017.
He actually only took charge of 13 games, keeping the club out of League One on the final day of the 2016/17 season before getting sacked a few weeks into the campaign after. As for West Ham, Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers, once again a spate of dodgy owners coincided with Redknapp’s tenure for which many won’t blame the coach.
Keys has form in blaming managers over owners, taking aim at Newcastle favourite Rafa Benitez amidst Mike Ashley’s stingy reign. As a rule of thumb, if you’re not on Keysy’s side, you’re on the right side.
