FORMER Saints manager Harry Redknapp will face trial for tax evasion next year, it can be reported for the first time today.

The Tottenham Hotspur boss, who has been tipped as a future England manager, is accused of two counts of cheating the public revenue between specific dates in 2002 and 2007 when he was manager of Portsmouth Football Club.

He is accused alongside the then Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric.

The first charge alleges that between April 1, 2002, and November 28, 2007, Mandaric paid $145,000 into a bank account held by Redknapp in Monaco, to avoid paying income tax and national insurance.

The second charge for the same offence relates to a sum of $150,000 allegedly paid by Mandaric to the same account between May 1, 2004, and November 28, 2007.

Both men deny the charges and a two-week trial is due to begin at London's Southwark Crown Court on January 23.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC ruled on Thursday afternoon that a ban on reporting details of the proceedings could be lifted at 2.30pm today.

Redknapp, 64, who was in charge at St Mary's when Saints were relegated in 2005, underwent minor heart surgery earlier this month to unblock his arteries, and has missed a number of Spurs games while he recovers.

He was hoping to return to the touchline within two weeks, but said recently he had been advised by doctors to stay away for four or five.

Mandaric is now the chairman at League One Sheffield Wednesday.