Jamie Redknapp was forced to apologise to Alan Sugar during Sky Sports’ coverage of Friday night’s game between Bournemouth and Fulham.
The former Tottenham chairman had sensationally threatened to sue Redknapp after he had claimed last month that the north London club had been ‘left in a mess’ by Daniel Levy’s predecessor.
‘Whoever takes over,’ he said at the time, when Sky Sports’ experts were discussing Daniel Levy’s departure from the club.
‘You think back to how Alan Sugar left the club, it was a complete mess – Daniel Levy has left this club in a really good way and Vinai will know that and the people in charge now can look at this club and really believe that this can go forward.’
Redknapp’s barb prompted a furious response from Sugar who spent 10 years running Spurs, attempting to establish the north London club as a Premier League force.
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‘He talks a load of rubbish,’ Sugar said in response to the former England midfielder’s dig, ‘He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and SKY will be hearing from my lawyers Monday @redknapp’.
A month on from Sugar’s pointed response on X, Redknapp took the opportunity last night to set the record stage and retract his initial comments.
‘I mentioned that Lord Sugar had the left the club in a mess,’ Redknapp said.
‘I just want to make clear that he stabilised the club and invested heavily during his time as chairman.
‘When he took over in 1991, Spurs were close to bankruptcy and by the time he stepped away the financial position had been turned around.
‘He also put significant money into the team and facilities. I apologise to Lord Sugar and his family for any misunderstanding and for any distress caused, and am happy to set the record straight.’
Noting the 52-year-old’s apology, Sugar again took to X and wrote: ‘On 13th September Jamie Redknapp stated on Sky Sports that I left Tottenham ‘in a mess’ when I sold the club to Daniel Levy.
‘Tonight during Sky’s Bournemouth v Fulham coverage, Redknapp has made a full apology and retracted this false allegation.
‘Also, by way of a further apology, a donation of £10,000 has been made to Great Ormond Street Hospital.’