Tottenham defender spells out why Harry Redknapp must stay
Michael Dawson insists Harry Redknapp must stay as Spurs boss as he has turned them into genuine top four contenders - just a year after the club were bottom.
Tottenham are third in the Premier League after a superb start.
And Redknapp, 62, has been a huge success at White Hart Lane since arriving a year ago when Juande Ramos was sacked.
But the team’s recent promising form has been overshadowed by claims Redknapp is facing a fresh investigation from the police and inland revenue.
And there was a frenzy of betting last week that Redknapp, whose home was raided by the authorities in 2007, was poised to resign from Tottenham.
Dawson, 25, said: “There were rumours last Friday but I don’t think the lads take a lot of notice of that. You get on with your own individual jobs.
“He’s your boss and he believes in me and you’ve got to believe in him.
“He’s certainly doing a top-class job at the moment.
“Since Harry came in he turned it round and brought a lot of belief to the players.
“You look at the squad we had last year, we had top-class players but we weren’t just performing as individuals, and as a team.
“Harry came in and believed in everyone and I think now the lads are just going out there and playing with no fear and they’re expressing themselves.”
This time last year Spurs propped up the Premier League following a dire start which cost Ramos his job.
But defender Dawson insists the north London club are now ready to compete for a Champions League spot under Redknapp, who has laughed off claims he will quit and denies any wrongdoing.
Dawson added: “It’s hard when you’re at the bottom of the table, played eight games and two points. It’s hard to go out there and express yourself.
“But a change of manager, it was a fresh start for every single one of us, and the players had to go out there and do that to make sure you were in the team.
“Now our aim is to break into that top four.
“You’ve got Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City coming into that equation now.
“Everyone’s aiming for that top four and that’s our aim and that’s where we believe we can be.
“It’s going to be a hard test but I don’t see why not.
“We’re playing well at the moment and we’ve got to keep it going and keep on the run we're on.”
Dawson was speaking at the NBA Take To The Courts event ahead of the NBA Europe Live game at the O2 tonight. Tip-off is 7.30pm and it will be broadcast live on ESPN
