Exonerated Redknapp grateful for support

Soccer:Harry Redknapp admits the last five years have been "a nightmare" after the Tottenham Hotspur manager was cleared of all charges of tax evasion.

A jury found both Redknapp and former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric not guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday.

Jurors accepted Redknapp's angry denials that he avoided tax on any payments over €227,000 found in a Monaco account. His acquittal alongside co-defendant Milan Mandaric blows the final whistle on a five-year £8million police investigation which failed to yield a single conviction.

Redknapp is adamant the case should never have been brought to court and he is now eager to get on with his life after offering his gratitude for all the support he has received.

"I just really want to thank my legal team, they were fantastic," said Redknapp outside court. "The support I've had from everybody at Tottenham and the support from Daniel Levy who, if he ever felt there was a problem when he gave me this job - this was going on over three years ago - would never have employed me.

"He knew this case should never have come to court and I have to thank the fans at Tottenham.

"The other night, at the Wigan game, was the most moving I've ever felt. For me, personally, to have them singing my name throughout the game, while all this was going one, will always be special to me and I'll never forget that.

"The most important thing, obviously, is my family who have been pulled through it the last five years it's been hanging over us. I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing my wife Sandra and getting away from all of this. It really has been a nightmare, I've got to be honest, it's been five years and this case should never have come to court. It was horrendous.

"It was a unanimous decision, the jury were absolutely unanimous there was no case to answer and I'm pleased we can go home and get on with my life."

Mandaric and former Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie were also cleared of €722,000 tax dodge claims at a previous trial, it can be reported for the first time.

Mandaric told reporters outside court: "I would rather not talk much now, and I'm quite sure you understand that. I've got to go somewhere to try to pinch myself and wake me up from that horrible dream that I had in the past.

"As we said in the statements, I always believed in the truth, and always believed in the British justice system."

The Sheffield Wednesday chairman will now take time to consider his future in the game, revealing: "Right now I have got to find out how much more is in my enthusiastic tank - energy and enthusiasm - to go back to go and win more games.

"I am here as all of you know for the love of the game and love of the country and I will try to do my best going forward.