I won't let Bournemouth go out of business, vows Harry Redknapp

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is prepared to spend a sizeable chunk of his own footballing fortune to prevent struggling League One club AFC Bournemouth being wound up.

The South Coast side were placed into administration with debts of around £4million earlier this month and could be closed down within weeks because of cash owed to the Inland Revenue.

But Redknapp, who began his managerial career at Dean Court and in 1982 produced a third round FA Cup shock when Bournemouth beat mighty Manchester United, is ready to build a consortium to save the club.

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"I will certainly not let them go out of business, that is for sure," vowed Redknapp who lives in a £7million mansion in the up-market Bournemouth suburb of Sandbanks.

"I live in the area and started my managerial career at the club. I have got a lot of time for the club and I am prepared to do whatever it takes.

"It's a great little football club with a nice little stadium and they get crowds of 5-6000 even when they are struggling. It's a club that means a lot to me and I will help them if I can. I will put in cash if necessary" Redknapp says he has already spoken to several businessmen in the Bournemouth area about a rescue plan and is optimistic that other investors can be found.

And he is not worried about the Football League claiming a conflict of interest with the manager of one English club owning share in another club. "If necessary," said Redknapp. "I could put my son in down there, couldn't I?"

Last night a Football League spokesman said any proposal by Redknapp to help Bournemouth would "have to be looked at with regard to the rules of dual interest."