HARRY REDKNAPP has given his blessing to Sir Clive Woodward taking on a future role at Saints.

It has been widely reported Woodward has agreed a two-year deal to work with the academy after leading the British Lions tour of New Zealand this summer, although Saints have yet to confirm any formal appointment.

But boss Redknapp has revealed he has already met with Woodward and believes the World Cup-winning rugby union coach has much to offer football.

"We met and got on well," said Redknapp. "He knows he will not walk in and get a manager's job. He wants to learn the ropes.

"Clive's said if I had not been happy it would not have been a goer. If I didn't fancy it, I would tell them: 'I'm not having that'.

"I was very impressed with him when I met. He is not in to run the football club and the academy, it is the medical side and rehab.

"If he can learn, we will go on from there. He loves his football, he knows it is a long, hard road.

"He is the type of fella who can put his mind to something and achieve it. He will work hard and set his goals."

Asked whether he felt this situation mirrored the one that led to his departure from Portsmouth earlier this season, when chairman Milan Mandaric brought in Velimir Zajec on the board to oversee footballing matters, Redknapp added: "Clive is not coming in as a director of football, so it's no problem at all.

"He has got a lot to offer from the sports science side of it.

"That side of the football club has all moved on. Look at Sam Allardyce, he is into all that sports science and Clive Woodward has got that from his rugby background."

Woodward was first linked with Saints last autumn shortly after Steve Wigley had taken over from Paul Sturrock. He said he planned to move into football after coaching The Lions and he is a good friend of chairman Rupert Lowe.

Redknapp believes the lack of a playing background in football does not mean Woodward cannot become a success in the game.

He said: "He is so enthusiastic, he wants to learn the game. There is no reason why he can't achieve what he wants to. He is not in it to run things. He wants to learn and observe the football club. He wasn't a footballer but he was a great rugby player and manager.

"Lawrie McMenemy wasn't a player but look at his record. Him and Ted Bates were the best managers the club has ever had.

"Jose Mourinho has also done well without having been a top player.

"If Clive Woodward has his (Mourinho's) type of brain, he is sure to be a big help to Jim (Smith), Kevin (Bond) and myself.

"I am very much looking forward to meeting Clive again after the Lions tour to see if we can take matters further."

Redknapp stressed that for now he was only concerned with maintaining Saints' fight against relegation.

"We are all concentrating on the next eight games of the season and Clive has his hands full and is totally focused on the Lions tour," he said.

"I'm just looking at this season and keeping the club up."

Chairman Lowe added: "We must not allow anything, least of all unsubstantiated press reports, to detract from our improving form.

"The next eight games are crucial to us as a club and their importance cannot be over emphasised.

"There are no plans to change our academy structure, as has been suggested. Their progress over the recent past has been exceptional and there is no upside to radically changing a winning formula."