Now we can start Thinking of future, says Redknapp
HARRY REDKNAPP admitted Queens Park Rangers barely deserved their dramatic play-off win over Derby.
‘What were my emotions when the goal went in? Surprise,’ said the QPR manager after Bobby Zamora produced his side’s only shot on target to secure victory.
‘We were looking to get to extra-time, that looked our only hope and then maybe get through to penalties.
‘I am delighted obviously — but I feel for Steve [McClaren] because you couldn’t see it coming.
‘The owner [Tony Fernandes] is delighted, we are happy for him because the owners here are really nice people. We are looking forward to next season now.’
Redknapp will now consider moves for out-of-contract pair Joe
Cole and Rio Ferdinand but when asked about his own future, Redknapp responded: ‘I hadn’t even thought about what next year will bring.
‘There was no next week or anything like that, everything was on today’s game. We now have time to decide what we do next season.
‘I’m looking forward to having a break now, I can think about it all and have a look at it.’
The result will help ease QPR’s precarious financial position, with a hefty fine — which could be as much as £50million — for breaching Football League Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations hanging over the club.
But Fernandes revealed yesterday that the club will contest the fine through the law courts.
‘Will we fight the fine? What do you think? After all we’ve been through, it’s my middle name — Fight It Fernandes,’ he said ‘My view is consistent, that it is very unfair for a club that has been relegated as the wage difference between the Premier League and Championship is impossible. There should be a period for clubs to rectify their salaries.
‘If we were in the Championship in two years with that wage bill it wouldn’t be right. I’m in favour of FFP but it is unfair for a club coming down.’
Centre-back Richard Dunne was key to Rangers’ success as he and his defensive colleagues kept waves of Derby pressure at bay.
He said: ‘We know how good we can be when we work, and we’ve worked really hard.
‘When the time came Bobby was there to finish it. It’s what we’ve been aiming for all year and we got there through the play-offs.’