Newcastle owner Mike Ashley knows full well the Geordie public see Alan Shearer as the man to recreate the Keegan feel-good factor, yet he is doing a "Freddy Shepherd" and going for the man "in fashion" at the moment.
If he comes to Tyneside it is for one reason ... the money ... and we´ve been down that avenue too many times before.
OK, Shearer has no experience, but he knows more about the game than to use Sam Allardyce´s tried and trusted "hoof the ball forward and take it from there".
Redknapp, like Allardyce, has done a good job keeping an unfashionable side in the Premiership. If that is what we want ... why sack Sam? Is Redknapp seriously any better than what we had?
It is now understood the Tyneside club were preparing to formalise their interest in the 60-year-old on Friday by making an approach to Pompey for permission to speak to him.
Neither club was either confirming or denying that contact has been made on Friday afternoon.
However, Redknapp's impromptu departure and the fact that Newcastle chairman Chris Mort was away from his desk - club owner Mike Ashley is currently in Hong Kong - added fuel to the fire as the former West Ham boss was backed down to an overwhelming 1/7 favourite with some bookmakers.
Until he gets a crack at it, Shearer will always be the favourite for the Toon Army.
Joe Harvey and Keegan played for the club and Sir Bobby was a life-long Toon fan ... and those three were NEVER barracked by the fans. They could have the five years that Allardyce wanted ... because the fans BELIEVED in them.
Sorry Harry, but if the South Coast is right for you ... you are welcome to it. The next manager must have the PASSION to WANT to come!