HARRY REDKNAPP has hinted that his long-term vision at St Mary's might depend on keeping Saints in the Premiership.

The Saints boss is focussed squarely on maintaining the club's 27-year stay in the top flight and says it is difficult right now to focus beyond the end of the season.

And even though everyone at St Mary's was boosted by the dramatic FA Cup win over Portsmouth that sent Saints into the last 16, Redknapp is looking only at the Premiership.

He said: "I was disappointed the way it all finished at Portsmouth. I've got a fresh challenge and life goes on.

"I've got to try and get on with the job, keep these up. It's a tough job.

"I've got to wait and see what happens this season.

"If I can keep them up we can build on that and I'm sure I can build a team here if I get the support that will be a decent team.

"If we don't stay up, it will be difficult.

"It's difficult to look beyond the season. I want to keep these up, that's the key for me."

It has been a tough past month for Redknapp following the fall-out from his controversial move to Saints.

He admits it was the buzz of Premiership management which enticed him back just two weeks after leaving Pompey.

He said: "I got a phone call and it was a bold move to say the least looking back.

"But I want to work and I'm not going to move away (from his Poole home) to work. This is a great club, look at the facilities.

"In the end I moved on because of circumstances. Then I got an offer of another job and why shouldn't I work?

"Am I supposed to go and manage a team up north when I live down here? Football is my game."

Redknapp guided Saints to a dramatic 2-1 FA Cup win in the first south-coast derby since he crossed the divide and he said: "I'm pleased it's over - I've wanted to get it out of the way for a few weeks

"I've got no bad feeling towards anyone at all. Those Portsmouth players every one of them came in my office before the game, they are all mates of mine. I signed every one of them.

"Arjan De Zeeuw, the captain, I took from Wigan on a free transfer and he's been fantastic in the Premier League.

"They have come from all over the place and they have done great. I had faith in them when people had never heard of half of them.

"Linvoy Primus was ready to be sold for £50,000 when I went there

"It was difficult. There was no hatred between me and anyone - the coach-driver, the kitman, all of them. I get on well with all of them.

"They are a great bunch of lads. We had two-and-a-half fantastic years together and there are no bad feelings whatsoever."

Of the boos he received from the Pompey fans, Redknapp added: "They have the right to their opinion but I've said it a million times that I didn't do too bad for them.

"No-one can take that away what I did them. I'd be a fool if I didn't expect that and it wasn't that bad.

"Life goes on, I've not got a problem with anyone, I'm nearly 60, why do I want to be rucking with anyone?

"I don't hold grudges against anybody."