Tottenham manager Redknapp cleared of tax evasion

A London court on Wednesday found Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp not guilty of tax evasion after a trial lasting more than two weeks.

A jury has cleared Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp of tax evasion, removing a key barrier to his chances of becoming the next  England coach.

Redknapp was found not guilty of two counts of concealing $295,000 of transfer bonuses in a Monaco bank account while in charge of Portsmouth.

Former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric was also found not guilty of two counts of cheating the public purse.

The 64-year-old Redknapp managed Portsmouth from 2002 to 2004 and returned in 2005 after a brief spell at Southampton before moving to Tottenham in 2008.

He has fought the accusations while enjoying the most successful  period of his managerial career at Tottenham.

Redknapp is the favourite to replace Fabio Capello after the European Championship in July.