• Spurs manager rebuts allegations of unsettling midfielder
• Redknapp no closer to resolution in bid for Bellamy

Harry Redknapp has hit back in the row over the future of West Ham’s Scott Parker. Redknapp and Spurs were this week accused of unsettling the player with their £7m bid, the Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan saying he was “very angry with Harry, Daniel [Levy, the Tottenham chairman] and Spurs”.

But Redknapp argued that any damage to the players’ peace of mind was the fault of West Ham. “Who made it public that we made an offer?” he said last night following Spurs’ 4-1 friendly defeat against Villarreal.

“You can make an offer for a player if you want to. You can make an offer for anybody. I’m sure the chairman must have got some encouragement or he wouldn’t have made an offer. So I’m not sure the full story has been told about that one. The chairman wouldn’t have made an offer unless he thought there was a chance that they wanted to do something.”

A deal for another target, Manchester City’s Craig Bellamy, also seems no closer to a resolution. “I like Craig Bellamy but I don’t know if they would sell him,” said Redknapp. “The chairman deals with all the transfers. He asks me what I want and I tell him. I don’t know where he’s at with Bellamy, if anywhere.”

Redknapp also revealed the motivation behind his attempts to sign two players with a combined age of 60, with the reigning European champions proving the inspiration. “If you’re going to be really successful you need a few men in your team, not lads that are learning,” he said.

“We’ve got a good group of players but two or three players with experience would make a massive difference to the team. You look at Inter Milan – they won the Champions League with a team of men, they were all experienced players. You need players with experience.”

Harry RedknappTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedTransfer windowJohn Ashdownguardian.co.uk

• Hammers reject £7m offer from local rivals
• David Sullivan vows to keep star midfielder

Scott Parker would like to consider Tottenham Hotspur’s proposal to take him across London to White Hart Lane and has been left frustrated at West Ham United’s refusal to countenance the deal.

Spurs have had a £7m offer rejected out of hand by the West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan, who has said the midfielder is not for sale and that Parker is to be offered a lucrative new five-year contract. The midfielder has three years to run on his current deal.

But Parker is tempted by what would be a hugely contentious switch – there is

• Zeljko has experience as a player and a coach, says Grant
• ‘The aim is to take the team forward with positive people’

West Ham’s manager Avram Grant has completed his management team with the appointment of the former Yugoslavia and Serbia midfielder Zeljko Petrovic as his assistant manager.

Grant had outlined his desire to appoint Petrovic, 44, when he took over at Upton Park this summer. He will work alongside the senior coach Paul Groves, the first-team coach Kevin Keen, the goalkeeping coach David Coles and the fitness coach Eamon Swift.

Grant said: “I am happy that we now have the staff set-up that I presented to the owners when I came. The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive people and have a creative atmosphere. Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of experience and knowledge as a player and a coach.

“Paul knows my methods and did a great job for me at Portsmouth. He is one of the main reasons we went all the way to the FA Cup final with all the difficulties. Kevin has represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very good coach and a positive person.”

Avram GrantWest Ham UnitedPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk