I have to agree with the BBCs Alan Hansen that “Pantomime season has started and there's none better than down on the South Coast”. With a cast of characters that includes Harry Redknapp, Dave “Harry” Bassett and Dennis Wise (playing Buttons), the Portsmouth-Southampton managership fiasco is as good as any TV soap opera ever gets.
We have Milan Mandaric and Rupert Lowe playing the Ugly Sisters (Mandaric’s gargoyle-like facial features require no additional make-up at all). There are also no less than two Cinderellas in Sir Clive Woodward (who better to bring a breath of fresh air to Southampton?) and Lawrie Sanchez (surely the obvious choice to manage poor old Portsmouth). Another of my favourite managers – Neil Warnock of Sheffield United – has already played his cameo role and returned home (what a sensible man).
Quite how Harry Redknapp got himself into such a muddle defies belief; and involving two clubs whose hatred of one another makes Arsenal-Spurs and Norwich-Ipswich rivalries look like mild spats amongst friends. Not even Liverpool-Everton, or the two Manchesters, or the two Sheffields can match the pure, passionate detestation that these teams feel for each other.
My guess is that by this time next year Mr Redknapp will be managing some team far, far away from the South Coast. Portsmouth will be relegated from the Premiership and will be scrapping with Southampton in the Championship relegation zone.
Pity the players! Pity the fans!
