Football: Willo wants Harry in place now (From Thisisdorset)

Football: Willo wants Harry in place now

7:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Sport By Ian Wadley

JOHN Williams – the player Harry Redknapp once said made his managerial career – has told Football Association chiefs: We want him NOW.

Popular former Cherries star Williams last night added his voice to the calls to appoint Redknapp as the successor to Fabio Capello, who resigned on Wednesday, in the England hot-seat.

Williams helped Redknapp achieve legendary status at Dean Court by playing a key role as the Sandbanks-based boss guided Cherries to promotion in 1987.

He believes the Tottenham Hotspur manager has earned the right to take the top job – and says he could bring pride to the national team.

Williams, BBC Radio Solent’s Cherries match summariser, told the Daily Echo: “He is the perfect man for the job.

“I am sure Tottenham fans wouldn’t say that. It seems like the timing might be out in some ways because I am sure he would have liked to finish off what he is achieving at Tottenham.

“But for the rest of the country, I think we all want him now – the sooner, the better.

“Everybody who has been around him has been inspired by him, not only the skilful players but the lads who are grafters. He has special words for them that make you want to run through brick walls for him.

“He can deal with both types of players, his knowledge is second to none and he is tactically astute.

“Nobody seems to work better with these boys who are earning absolute fortunes – he seems to be able to motivate them no matter what.

“We all can’t wait for him to get offered the job and get started, to be quite honest.”

In his column for The Sun newspaper in 2010, Redknapp described Williams as his number one transfer as a manager.

Redknapp added: “He stopped goals, scored goals, made goals and I’d say he made my managerial career, too.”

Discussing his former boss, who he labelled a “passionate Englishman”, Williams added: “For my generation, it is long overdue that we have an England team that we can be proud of again and Harry ticks all the right boxes.

“I just think he is perfect for the job in every way.”

After masterminding Spurs’ rise up the Premier League table, Redknapp has become the favourite to be named England’s next permanent manager.

FA chiefs were set to meet today to put together a shortlist, with chairman David Bernstein saying he expected “to move quickly”.

He did not comment on the reports linking Redknapp with the vacancy.

Speaking outside his Dorset home yesterday morning, Redknapp told reporters: “It wouldn’t be right to focus on anything else other than Tottenham.”

Current England assistant Stuart Pearce will take charge of the friendly match against Holland on February 29.