If I were Daniel Levy I'd be running, bank account details in hand, to the FA to negotiate the immediate release of Harry Redknapp. I say negotiate, Levy has a reputation for getting big money for average players and with Redknapp and the FA it would be nothing less than profiteering. Interestingly it has now become as, if not more important, to Tottenham that this move happens sooner rather than later as it already was to England.
With two wins in eight games since Fabio Capello resigned from the England post and Redknapp was named the heir apparent by the public, pundits and fans alike, the wheels really have fallen off Spurs' season. As stubborn as Harry's denial of this link is, the fact is it's true. It's not only the results that have changed but the style, tactics and mentality too.
For the first half of the season Spurs were playing with a flair and a freedom which had them labelled as outside title contenders. Since the Capello era ended they've looked like a team who don't know if they should be fighting for a top half finish or settling for a comfortable 13th. Previously they were scoring goals for fun with the bite of Parker freeing Modric and Van der Vaart to link up with the liberated Adebayor, whilst Lennon and Bale caused mayhem on both flanks. Although injuries have played a part at times, of late Lennon has been left on the bench replaced with defensive central midfielders whilst Van der Vaart or Modric are instructed to fill the void on the right.
This has just resulted in Adebayor being stranded up front, Van der Vaart and Modric looking like the unpopular kids in a school team and Bale thinking he has to do everything; shooting at every available (and unavailable) opportunity. The predatory instinct of what was arguably the most potent attacking force in the Premier League has been strangled and Redknapp shows no sign of slackening the noose.
Harry's going and it's time Tottenham got over him before their dream of a Champions League reunion is shattered. Don't get me wrong, Tottenham owe the man a lot. As he has told us in practically every interview since being installed as Spurs boss they were bottom of the league without a hope before he turned them into one of England's brightest lights.
The problem facing the White Hart Lane executives is who can replace him. After the Juande Ramos horror show Levy changed the continental management structure he'd been trying to force to work for many a faltering season for a more traditional English approach with the most traditional English manager he could find.
The fear for many fans is that Levy may be tempted to go back to old ways and plump for a big name foreign import such as Benitez or Ranieri, both of whom seem to go from big club to big club thriving on failure. If he decides however to stick with British then the recruitment process may prove a lot more difficult. Possible candidates include David Moyes, who's done fantastically on a shoestring budget at Everton but has no experience with a budget or big names. And then there's Roy Hodgson, who's brought a renewed sense of hope to West Brom but failed spectacularly at Liverpool (although one must bear in mind that this is a club who have no qualms with Kenny Dalglish). If Levy does move for one of these then he needs to get as much compensation from the FA as possible to prise Redknapp's successor away from their respective clubs. The dream ticket for many of course would be Jose Mourinho, who has hinted at a summer departure from Real Madrid, but how much truth is in those words is hard to gauge.
The argument against pushing Harry now rather than waiting for him to jump would be that the club would be in a state of limbo until the season is over. I'd argue that Tottenham were in limbo since Capello fell on his sword, and comatose after being humiliated 5-2 by Arsenal over a month ago.