Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as the next England boss following the resignation of Fabio Capello last week.

The 64-year-old has done a terrific job at Spurs, transforming the north London club from relegation candidates to title challengers within a glorious three-year period which has also seen White Hart Lane experience Champions League football for the first time.

Despite his achievements at the club, the former Portsmouth and Southampton boss is well aware that he will not immune from criticism if, as expected, he is appointed as the next national manager.

Redknapp knows some of the best managers in the world have received huge criticism for their inability to lead England to their first major trophy win since 1966, and acknowledges the flak he is likely to receive if he gets the post is part and parcel of football.

He said: "It goes with the job. There have been some good managers who have all had it. Apart from Terry Venables in Euro '96, everybody else has been slaughtered at times.

"If you lose a couple of games, it is like the world is coming to an end, isn't it? That's what you have to put up with.

"It is getting near the knuckle now, though. I heard the other day during a game on TV some people chanting about some player's wife.

"I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"But that is what happens now - it is different to how it used to be."

Redknapp last night ruled out the possibility of leaving Tottenham before the end of the season as he is determined to help the club try to win their first league title in 51 years.

The Londoner would like the job on a full-time basis but insists the FA have not contacted him yet.

The Tottenham manager admits he also has a difficult task in persuading chairman Daniel Levy to allow him to leave if the FA come calling.

"I have spoken to Daniel and he wants me to stay," Redknapp added.

"I haven't had an approach from anybody. They (the FA) may be thinking along completely different lines to what everyone else is thinking. They might want someone else."

All the talk of him becoming the next England manager has not stopped Redknapp from discussing possible transfer targets for the summer.

This week Eden Hazard said he was interested in moving to White Hart Lane and Redknapp accepted the highly-rated Lille midfielder is on the club's radar.

"Hazard is a player that we have spoken about," Redknapp said.

"He is a player who is definitely on our list.

"We spoke about him a few weeks ago. We started talking about possibly getting him in then."

Redknapp must put to one side any speculation linking him with England tomorrow as he takes his team to npower League One side Stevenage in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Hertfordshire club are two leagues below Tottenham but are challenging for their third successive promotion under new boss Gary Smith.

Redknapp lifted the FA Cup with Portsmouth four years ago and would love to win the competition again this season.

"Getting in the Champions League is important, but it would be nice to win the cup. I would love to do it," he said.

Portsmouth reached the final two seasons after Redknapp departed, but otherwise it has been a miserable time for Pompey fans in recent years.

A succession of owners have struggled to keep the club afloat and they now face relegation to League One after being put in to administration for a second time on Friday night - something which saddens Redknapp greatly.

"It's unbelievable," said Redknapp, who managed the south-coast club on two occasions.

"When Milan Mandaric owned Portsmouth it was a tight run club.

"Then he left and you wonder what happened really.

"There was probably £90million in transfers that came in. If you look back on it they got £20million for Glen Johnson, £20-odd million for Lassana Diarra, and since then they have stumbled from owner to owner to owner... It's frightening. It has just been unfair really."