Harry Redknapp has swapped the dugout for the dirt track after pledging to help bring British speedway back to the forefront of UK sport.
The former West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham manager — and ‘King of the Jungle’ from I’m A Celebrity — has joined the management team at Speedway Futures Ltd, the group that owns the sporting, commercial and media rights to British speedway.
Redknapp says he wants to help restore the sport’s profile and introduce it to a new generation of fans.
“I watch it on TNT Sports and it’s fantastic entertainment,” the former football boss told The Sun.
Harry Redknapp has swapped the dugout for the dirt track after pledging to help bring British speedway back to the forefront of UK sport
|PA
“These guys are going from 0-60 quicker than a Formula One car, with no brakes, and they risk life and limb every time they race.”
Redknapp revealed that he has been a lifelong fan of the sport, often attending meetings at Poole Stadium when his sons Jamie and Mark were young.
“It really is breathtaking motorsport on your doorstep,” he said.
“Back in the day I used to take the boys to watch the daredevils in action — and it’s still the great evening out that it always was.”
JUST IN: Transgender Team USA cyclist uploads sickening posts celebrating death of Charlie Kirk
The 78-year-old is determined to play a hands-on role in boosting speedway’s visibility and believes the sport is poised for a major resurgence.
“It’s the same all over the country at places like Belle Vue, Sheffield, Oxford, Leicester, Ipswich, Glasgow and King’s Lynn — these are iconic venues,” he said.
“I loved watching speedway on World of Sport on a Saturday afternoon in the close season. I even got to know Barry Briggs quite well.
“It’s amazing to think that in 1981 the Speedway World Championship final drew 90,000 to Wembley, and 12 million people were watching it on TV. The top riders — Briggo, Ivan Mauger, Ole Olsen, Peter Collins and Bruce Penhall — were household names.”
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008
|PA
Redknapp believes that despite losing mainstream television coverage for decades, the sport is finally back on the rise. He pointed to Britain’s success on the global stage, with Great
Britain crowned world champions twice in the last four years.
“What an achievement, and something the sport and the country should be so proud of,” he said.
“The racing is still out of this world, and anything I can do to help that I definitely will.”
The former FA Cup-winning manager is hoping to bring the same energy that he brought to football.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Harry Redknapp wants to make speedway great again
| GETTY“If I can lead top clubs to cup glory and the Champions League, then I am sure I can help a great sport like speedway hit the big time again,” he stated.
“Four riders per race, elbow-to-elbow at high speed, 15 races per meeting — there’s nothing like it. TNT Sports are getting great audiences and clubs are pulling in big crowds. Once people go, they’ll want to keep coming back. My aim is to make speedway huge again.”