Redknapp was the bookmakers' favourite to take over at Newcastle |
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has turned down an offer to succeed Sam Allardyce as Newcastle manager.
Redknapp was Newcastle's number one choice but he has decided to stay at Fratton Park, the club have confirmed.
Portsmouth reportedly gave Redknapp until lunchtime on Saturday to make a decision, and he has opted to stay.
"He thought about it overnight and decided to stay, he wants to stay in the job that he's been doing so brilliantly," a club spokesman said.
Allardyce was sacked by the St James' Park club on Wednesday, and Redknapp soon became Newcastle's number one choice to take over the reins.
Speculation intensified on Friday after the former Bournemouth, West Ham and Southampton manager missed a planned press conference.
But Redknapp, 60, has now ruled himself out of the running and will continue at Portsmouth, who travel to Sunderland on Sunday.
Allardyce was dismissed after just eight months at St James' Park, sparking the rumour mill about his successor into overdrive.
 |
LAST SIX MAGPIES MANAGERS
Kenny Dalglish
Jan 1997-Aug 1998
Ruud Gullit
Aug 1998-Aug 1999
Sir Bobby Robson
Sep 1999-Aug 2004
Graeme Souness
Sep 2004-Feb 2006
Glenn Roeder
Feb 2006-May 2007
Sam Allardyce
May 2007-Jan 2008 |
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes was one of those linked with the job but he has distanced himself from the post, despite being installed as the new bookmakers favourite.
Other names linked with the job include former Toon striker Alan Shearer, Martin Jol, Jose Mourinho, Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and former England boss Steve McClaren.
BBC sources close to the 37-year-old Shearer, though, say he is extremely unlikely to take the role as he is happy with his pundit work on Match of the Day.
Magpies assistant boss Nigel Pearson has been put in temporary charge for Saturday's match against defending champions Manchester United.
