HARRY REDKNAPP revealed that Pompey's recent defeat against Saints helped persuade him to leave Fratton Park.

Redknapp, 57, walked out on Pompey 11 days after the 2-1 defeat at St Mary's - the second of three successive Premiership losses - and admitted he nearly resigned immediately afterwards.

He said: "I nearly went before the Southampton game and after that match I wished I had gone. Jim Smith knows me as well as anyone and he said I wasn't myself that day. People can see when you're not yourself and I made my decision soon after that game. "I spoke to Peter Storrie on the Saturday by the dressing room door (at St Mary's) and on the Sunday I met Milan. We had a coffee for two hours and it was all resolved but I've been thinking about this for a while."

Executive director Velimir Zajec will take temporary charge of Pompey's match at Bolton and will remain in that capacity until a head coach is appointed to replace Redknapp, who was adamant he walked out without a penny in compensation.

Redknapp, who had a seven-figure salary and a contract that still had 18 months to run, said: "I was disappointed with the way that the situation was handled last week but the whole thing with the new man coming in turned it all into a bit of a soap opera.

"This is 110 per cent my decision and is nothing to do with mutual consent, I thought about it without any pressure from the board. No-one is pushing me, the chairman asked me to stay, but I've been thinking about this for a while and was seriously considering it at the start of the season, after two great years.

"To survive last year was a fantastic achievement but I've left the club in great shape, we've got some terrific players here and have gone from the bottom of the first division to playing top drawer football in the Premiership in two and a half years.

"If everyone is fit, this team can finish in the top 12. Who knows how far the club can go from here, it's got a new stadium on the way, someone else can take it on from here. Whoever comes in has got four fantastic young strikers, the club's in good shape to go forwards."

Chairman Milan Mandaric said: "I've got tremendous admiration and respect for where Harry has taken this club. He will retain his affection with the fans and I include myself in that.

"I might be losing Harry as a manager but I sincerely hope I won't lose him as a friend. It's a sad day for Portsmouth and a sad day for me, I can't tell you enough about what Harry's done for this club and how sorry I am that he won't be a part of its future."