Redknapp almost joined Spurs 18 months ago but chairman Daniel Levy finally got his man on Sunday after sacking Juande Ramos and agreeing a compensation package with Portsmouth.

The new era started with a 2-0 win over Bolton as Spurs moved within a point of getting themselves off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

"I nearly came here, it was a long story but things happened," Redknapp said.

"I nearly went to Newcastle and people said I didn't want to take on the challenge of a big club. I felt that once this happened (with Spurs again), I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

Confidence was starting to creep back against Gary Megson's men, but getting safe is the only thing on Redknapp's agenda at the moment.

"That's my first priority," he said. "The record was eight games, two points, so you're in trouble. Anything else is a bonus."

The key performers against Bolton were players who have been struggling, or missing, under Ramos.

David Bentley, outspoken and dropped last week, set up the opener for Roman Pavlyuchenko to score his first league goal since his move from Spartak Moscow.

Ledley King played his second match in four days - the first time he has done so in 10 months - and Luka Modric looked a different player in a new position supporting the lone striker.

"I felt that's his position, behind the front man," Redknapp said. "That's where he needs to play so that's where we decided to play him. It freed him up.

"If you give him the ball, he'll do special things and has got great awareness. And he mucked in. He headed balls away and kicked balls away, getting on the end of things. He was terrific."

Redknapp will have total control of transfers after Levy scrapped the system of sporting director Damien Comolli recruiting players, with the Frenchman dismissed along with Ramos and his assistants.

The Spurs boss will now draw up his own targets and bring in Kevin Bond as a coach and other assistants, although he has ruled out his son, Jamie, returning to White Hart Lane.

"The chairman will do the deals but I'll pick the players," Redknapp said. "I wouldn't let anyone else buy my players."

Redknapp could bring up to two assistants to White Hart Lane and added: "There are a couple of ex-Tottenham people who I think have great futures in the game. I would like to talk to them about coming here."

Darren Bent added the second from the penalty spot before Bolton boss Gary Megson had to endure abusive chants from his own supporters.

"Everyone is giving it their best shot, frustrations come out and they've chosen to react in the way they have done," Megson said.

"The players, myself and everyone in that dressing room have an opinion but that is where it will stay."

Megson also had Gavin McCann sent off for two bookings, the second for a foul on Tom Huddlestone.

"I don't think it was fair," Megson said.

"I'm not too far away from it and I didn't see too much contact. I heard the scream and the two didn't go together."