Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was found not guilty of tax evasion yesterday, clearing the way for the popular Spurs boss to succeed Fabio Capello as coach of England (see opposite page).

A relieved Redknapp said his case should never have been brought to court, describing his prosecution as a five-year “nightmare” following his acquittal at Southwark Crown Court.

“I’m looking forward to getting home, and getting away from all this,” Redknapp told reporters outside court.

“It really has been a nightmare, I’ve got to be honest. It’s been five years and it should never have come to court.”

The most successful English manager currently working in football, Redknapp is regarded as the odds-on favourite to replace Capello with his Spurs side currently third in the Premier League table.

Any guilty verdict against Redknapp would have effectively ended his chances of becoming England boss, a job he has previously said he would be unable to turn down if offered to him.

But yesterday’s acquittal leaves Redknapp free to pursue his dream of managing England.

Bookmakers immediately slashed their odds on him taking over from Capello following the verdict.

Former England manager Graham Taylor said a huge obstacle to Redknapp’s England hopes had been removed following the court case, which also saw co-defendant Milan Mandaric cleared of all charges.

“Now that Harry has been proved innocent it makes a clear path should the FA wish to offer him the England manager’s job,” Taylor told the BBC.

Redknapp, 64, and Mandaric, 73, had denied two counts of cheating the public revenue by failing to declare €225,000 kept in a Monaco bank account.

Prosecutors alleged the money was paid to Redknapp by Mandaric when the two men were manager and owner of Ports-mouth respectively as part of a bonus arising from the sale of striker Peter Crouch.

But Redknapp said the money was paid by Mandaric to help with investments in the United States, and that he believed any taxes owing on the amount had already been paid by his chairman.