Redknapp, 61, has taken only a short time out this week from preparing Pompey for their midday semi-final clash with Championship contenders West Brom to publicly discuss his feelings over the personal problems which could have wrecked his career since the launch of an ongoing police probe into alleged soccer corruption.

But blunt-speaking Redknapp, 25 years a manager of Bournemouth, West Ham and Southampton as well as Portsmouth, this week spoke out following his arrest by City of London Police late last year on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

Bail notices are still in place on the five men arrested - including Redknapp, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie and former Pompey owner Milan Mandaric, and the likelihood is that the case will drag on well beyond next month's final, although no charges have yet been brought.

Redknapp has consulted lawyers and strongly denies any wrongdoing.

He said: "It is like anything. When you know you haven't done something wrong it doesn't bother you, does it?

"If I had done something wrong, I would be more bothered than anybody. I couldn't handle it. But when you haven't it is not a problem.

"Sure, I took it to work. I explained to the lads what it was all about. After it happened I had a meeting and told everyone (at the club) what was going on.

"It is just a load of nonsense that has nothing to do with me in any shape or form, and that will be proved. So I just come to work and get on with it."

He added: "If I had done something wrong I would go away and hide, I would want to kill myself, I really would."

Redknapp is determined to make unfashionable Portsmouth one of the country's leading clubs, with the FA Cup and a place in European football the first steps.

He could have accepted a stunning offer to take over at Newcastle with a multi-million pound annual salary in February but decided to remain loyal to his Pompey dream instead.

He said: "When Newcastle came in it was a difficult week for me, because people were saying I had got to give it a go, and I understood what they were saying.

"I was being told if you don't take on the challenge you will always regret it. Yes, there is that side to it, but we have got a good team here.

"So I thought why would I want to leave it when I thought it was getting better with a club that was going forward? And I was being treated well here so there was no need to go.

"If I was being badly treated then I would have walked away from it. But I was being treated good and loving my time here, so there was no need to leave.

"There have been no tinges of regret. Once you make the decision you get on with your life. I don't go home thinking I wish I had done this or that.

"Now it would be lovely to get to the final - fantastic, the icing. It would be great for the supporters. Newcastle are a massive club but we have got some good players here, so I don't know if they will be above us next year.

"I certainly don't think they will this year."