AP

Harry Redknapp remained tight-lipped about succeeding Fabio Capello as England manager.

London – Harry Redknapp remained tight-lipped about becoming the next England manager Thursday despite being installed as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Fabio Capello following the Italian's shock resignation.

“I don't know anything about the England job,” Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp told Sky Sports on Thursday. “I've not even thought about it, I've got a job to do for Tottenham... Tottenham is my focus.”

Capello quit on Wednesday following a row with the Football Association over the decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.

His exit capped an extraordinary day for English football, coming just hours after Redknapp was cleared of all charges following a trial for tax evasion.

Capello's departure left England without a manager just months before they compete in the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Redknapp said he was stunned by the Italian's decision, made after Capello criticised the FA for stripping Terry of the captaincy on the grounds the Chelsea defender still faces criminal charges of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand in a case that won't be settled until after Euro 2012.

“I was shocked, I was surprised, I didn't expect that to happen,” said Redknapp. “We knew he (Capello) was going to leave in the summer (after Euro 2012), but I didn't expect it to happen now.”

Although the FA, due to hold a news conference at 12pm (2pm SA time) Thursday, may appoint an interim coach, Redknapp is regarded as the only viable candidate for Euro 2012 and beyond, meeting the governing body's desire for the next manager to be English while possessing a proven track record.

However, Redknapp said he was focused solely on the fortunes of Tottenham, currently an impressive third in the Premier League.

“They've been fantastic to me, Tottenham people... It wouldn't be right to them to even focus on anything else but Tottenham.”

As for what the FA might do with regard to appointing a manager for Euro 2012, Redknapp said: “I've never thought about it. They (the FA) will make whatever decision they want to make and hopefully it will be the right decision for the country. But as I say, my focus is all on Tottenham.” – Sapa-AFP