by Staff Writer
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Ex-Hammers boss Harry Redknapp says he hopes Nottingham Forest are relegated at the expense of West Ham United this season.
Redknapp, who played for and managed West Ham was talking to Sporting Life about the battle to avoid relegation, which he believes involves only three clubs now - West Ham, Forest and another of his former clubs, Tottenham - one of which is set to join Wolves and Burnley, who already look doomed, in the Championship next season.
And given his allegiance to the two London clubs, the 78-year-old is keen to see both West Ham and Spurs remain in the Premier League - at the expense of the Tricky Trees.
"If anyone's going to go, I'll want it to be Forrest," he said. "They're in the relegation battle for sure. There's three teams. Obviously I don't West Ham to go. I don't want Tottenham to go either as they're not Forest, so.
"I've got lots of friends who love Nottingham Forest but, you know, my loyalties will be with West Ham and Tottenham. Obviously it's only three left and one of them three, I would think are definitely going to go down.
"It's going to be tight. Tottenham have found themselves in a relegation battle but a win or two [could see them safe]. West Ham are in good form, so I'm hoping they continue in good form.
Tottenham need to pick up and with my loyalties between the two, I'm hoping - not that I dislike Nottingham Forest in any shape or form, I respect them very much - but if anyone's going to go, I want it to be Forest."
Redknapp enjoys ties with both West Ham and Tottenham. He first made his mark at West Ham, for whom he made more than 150 appearances in the 1960s before serving as assistant manager under Billy Bonds then becoming manager in 1994.
During seven years in charge, he promoted an attractive style and brought through talents such as Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Johnson and Joe Cole. He also signed key players like Paolo Di Canio and Marc Vivien Foe, guiding West Ham to a fifth-place Premier League finish in 1998/99 and Intertoto Cup success.
Redknapp later took charge of Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, inheriting a side in the relegation zone and quickly stabilising them. He led Spurs to a fourth-place Premier League finish in 2009/10, securing their first qualification for the UEFA Champions League era.
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