Manager Harry Redknapp has received a ringing endorsement from former chairman Milan Mandaric after completing a highly successful year back at Portsmouth.

Mandaric, 68, hopes to shortly take control at Coca-Cola Championship club Leicester after selling his controlling stake in Portsmouth to Alexandre Gaydamak.

But 12 months after patching up his differences with Redknapp, and seeing him embark on a second spell at Fratton Park, Mandaric said: ''Bringing Harry back to Portsmouth a year ago was one of my bravest but best decisions.

''People thought I had fallen out of a tree and bumped my head when I asked him back, but nobody could have done what he has done here. It was a courageous decision by him, too.'' Redknapp celebrated over dinner with Mandaric last night, which marked exactly a year since Redknapp returned from an ill-fated spell with Saints.

The Portsmouth manager said: ''It has been a great year.

''Probably nothing will ever top what I did in keeping Pompey up last season but then nobody would have guessed we would be fourth in the Premiership now.'' However Redknapp has been struck a blow after learning strikers Lomana Lualua and Andy Cole may miss the busy festive period of matches.

Lualua has been ruled out with a thigh injury for six weeks and former England frontman Cole is at least two weeks away from a comeback because of an Achilles problem.

''There is still a long way to go but losing Lualua and Andy Cole is a big blow and means we are down to just two strikers - Benjani and Kanu. Getting through Christmas will be the hard part now,'' said Redknapp.

''I'm very happy with the players I have brought in this season. Sol Campbell, David James, Kanu and Glen Johnson have been outstanding.

''But you always look to improve your squad and if we can find one or two new players next month then I'm confident the new owner will do the deals if he can because he is ambitious.''