Harry Redknapp believes the writing was on the wall for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham as soon as Daniel Levy refused to back him publicly after the Europa League final last month. On Friday, Spurs confirmed that the Australian had been sacked.
Despite winning the club's first trophy in 17 years, Postecoglou was dismissed following a 17th-place Premier League finish. In a statement, Tottenham explained that "the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place."
Tottenham added: "Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.
"At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.
"It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision."
They are now searching for yet another new head coach after appointing Postecoglou during a roller coaster summer in 2023 when Arne Slot was initially targeted. For Redknapp, there was only one decision coming.
"I thought it was a certainty," he told talkSPORT. "[It] doesn't shock me at all because Daniel has had two weeks since the cup final to have come out and say, 'look, he's our manager. Why all this speculation? He's here for next season.' From day one, after that cup, he never came out, Daniel, and said a word, Daniel Levy. I knew then, for sure, he was finished. It was a certainty. It is not a shock in any shape or form to me."
The reaction to the sacking has been split. On one hand, Postecoglou ended Tottenham's wait for major silverware and delivered a night of immense joy that cannot be rivalled in recent times.
He had grown to be an unpopular figure throughout the season, though, with increasingly abject domestic performances culminating in 22 defeats from 38 league games. It was Levy who felt the brunt of the protests from supporters due to his running of the club.
For Redknapp, the Europa League was not enough. "It's harsh," he started, before adding, "Well, it's a difficult one. They were atrocious this year, Tottenham, let's be honest. The league form, fourth from bottom, they've had a shocker. And great, they won the cup, you can win a cup.
"I read Graeme Souness' article the other day, I won a cup. Sometimes you get the luck of the draw and you can do this or do that. They beat Man United. It could have gone either way in the final. But great, they won the cup.
"Look, overall, I suppose Daniel is looking at it and thinking, hang on, [Erik] Ten Hag last year, Man United kept him and they went out and bought some players under his leadership and then suddenly they sack him.
"Now, are they going to take a chance with Ange? Bringing three or four or five new players and then suddenly things haven't improved in the league by Christmas. Then he's got to go and you're stuck with players that he may have brought in.
"Daniel will be looking at all those things. It's harsh. I like him. He looks a good guy. I'd have liked to see him given more chance this year but it was never going to happen once Daniel didn't come out and support him."
What does Redknapp think Levy is after, ultimately? "He's going to want to be up there in that top four, challenging." For many, Tottenham may well be back to square one.