Since Harry Redknapp decided to step down as Queens Park Rangers boss yesterday, some have speculated that it was down to the fact that he was unable to bring in fresh talent before the close of the transfer deadline.
The former Tottenham and West Ham manager has vehemently denied that there is any truth to those suggestions, citing the need for knee surgery.
Redknapp told Sky Sports News' Jim White that QPR chairman Tony Fernandes had been pushing until the final minute to get some deals over the line. Yet the AirAsia chief then tweeted something that flew in the face of that assertion:
No more cheque book. We have good players. Bought all the players manager asked for in sunmer. Our players not mercenaries. Good guys.
— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) February 2, 2015
"He's clearly struggling with his knee, there's no doubt about that," said The Sun's Martin Lipton on Off The Ball last night as he joined us to discuss the situation at Loftus Road.
"I think it's become a convenient reason for them to agree on a departure. I think there's other factors as well."
Lipton said Fernandes has backed Redknapp "fairly extensively" in the transfer market and stood by the ex-Southampton and Portsmouth manager in the face of disappointing results.
"I think it's come to a point where he's got other things in his head. He can't be seen to be devoting time and money to Queens Park Rangers when he's still dealing with the aftermath of that horrendous tragedy involving the Air Asia jet. Maybe that's the big factor that people should take into account," said Lipton.
When Fernandes has given Redknapp cash, the manager has not always spent it well - barring a few exceptions like prolific striker Charlie Austin.
Lipton also feels that the moment Redknapp was removed by Tottenham was the day his top tier managerial career really came to an end.
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