Reports suggest that the Tottenham manager and England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce are the favourites to lead what would be an English-only side at the London Games.

Redknapp, who is also favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager, has insisted he had no idea whether the British Olympic Association were considering him for the job but revealed he would be interested in it. 'Of course: anybody would be, wouldn't they?'' said the 63-year-old. ''But, suddenly, it's 'Harry wants to be manager of whatever'.

''Never at any stage has it entered my mind.''He added: ''I don't know who selects it, how it gets selected.''London 2012 Organising Committee chairman Lord Coe had previously approached Sir Alex Ferguson over the role.

The Manchester United manager said two years ago he would not commit to the job so far in advance and is even less likely to do so now after Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland refused to provide players for the team.