Clyde Best has backed his pal and former team-mate Harry Redknapp to keep Portsmouth in the Premiership after sensationally returning to his former club yesterday.

Redknapp, a frequent visitor to Bermuda who used to run soccer camps here, was re-appointed manager of Pompey yesterday, one year after he quit the Premier League club for bitter south coast rivals Southampton.

Redknapp, 58, resigned from second division Southampton on Saturday saying it had been the worst year of his life.

And Best, who played alongside one of football?s most charismatic in his West Ham days and remains in touch with the former international, was full of praise for Redknapp.

?He?s a wily old fox and he if anyone can get the job done, it?s Harry,? said Best yesterday.

?It takes a lot of courage to go back to Portsmouth after what?s happened and it will take a certain sort of person to do the business there, but I know Harry and I know he will be able to handle it all.

?He?s a great manager and it is obvious why they wanted him to go back.?

Best revealed that he hadn?t spoken to Redknapp in a couple of months but understood what he was going through at Southampton.

Redknapp replaces Frenchman Alain Perrin who was sacked by Portsmouth last week after a poor run of form. Portsmouth are 18th in the league with ten points from 15 games.

Redknapp?s return had looked in doubt on Monday after Southampton rejected what it termed a ?derisory? offer of compensation.

Following further talks chairman Rupert Lowe said yesterday that a package had been agreed, allowing Redknapp to hold talks with Fratton Park chairman Milan Mandaric.

?This saga had got to the stage of being an embarrassment for football as a whole,? Lowe said on his club?s website.

?Portsmouth have produced a compensation package that is just acceptable to this club and I consider that it is in Southampton?s best interests to get on with the future rather than dwell on the past.?