Redknapp trial date set

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has been accused of cheating the public revenue, and will face a two-week trial in January.

The Spurs’ coach is currently recovering from heart surgery, and has handed over first-team duties to his backroom staff Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond in recent weeks.

Redknapp will stand trial with Sheffield Wednesday owner Milan Mandaric from January 23.

With the trial date scheduled to start the day after an away trip to league leaders Manchester City, and clashes against Wigan Athletic and Liverpool also scheduled for during the hearing, this will be seen as another unwanted distraction for the north London club.

The duo each face two counts of cheating the public revenue, dating back to when they were manager and chairman respectively of south coast outfit Portsmouth.

The indictment reads: “Mandaric and Redknapp, between 1 April 2002 and 28 November 2007, with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of HM Revenue and Customs, arranged for $145,000, paid by Mandaric as a result of or in connection with Redknapp’s employment and as a reward for services, to be transferred to a Monaco bank account opened by Redknapp for that purpose, in order to conceal the said emolument from HM Revenue and Customs and evade the payment of income tax and national insurance contributions thereon (whether by the operation of PAYE by the club or otherwise).”

The indictment continues for count two: “Mandaric and Redknapp between 1 May 2004 and 28 November 2007, with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of HM Revenue and Customs, arranged for $150,000, paid by Mandaric as a result of or in connection with Redknapp’s employment and as a reward for services, to be transferred to a Monaco bank account opened by Redknapp for that purpose, in order to conceal the said employment income from HM Revenue and Customs and evade the payment of income tax and national insurance contributions thereon (whether by the operation of PAYE by the club or otherwise).”