Tony Pulis told Harry Redknapp to take Birmingham City job because of 'relaxing' commute

Redknapp and Pulis both live on the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula near Bournemouth and the new Blues boss jokingly offered to car-share with Albion’s head coach on journeys up to the Midlands.

But Pulis likes to keep his drives to himself, because it’s the only time he gets to clear his head.

“I try to get home at least twice a week if I can because it gives me time in the car,” he said. “The car is the place I can sit by myself and digest everything that’s going on, turn that blinking phone off, and sort everything out.

“A couple of hours drive down to the south coast or back up to Birmingham is refreshing. It gives you that opportunity to relax by yourself.”

Pulis was signed by Redknapp for Bournemouth in 1986 and was promoted to the position of manager after the Englishman left the club.

And because they are old friends, ‘Arry called Pulis up before he decided to stay on at Birmingham City for another year.

“Harry will ask everybody about everything and Harry will do what he wants to do when he wants to do it,” he laughed.

“We had a nice chat, he wanted to know about the area and how much time it took me to get up, how I work my week. He said he’d pay me a couple of quid if I drove him up and down!”

Pulis is no stranger to the long drive, having previously managed Stoke City across two stints.

But throughout his managerial career he’s tried to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

“You work your way around the week,” he said. “It varies. We’ve not had a game this week and I’ve stayed up all week. Other times we might play on a Tuesday night and I’ll go home and have Wednesday at home, drive back up early Thursday morning.

“Harry’s playing in a league that plays 46 times a season, we play 38 times. He’ll have more midweek games than I will but I get moved from a Saturday to a Friday, to a Monday, to a Sunday.

“I’m certain he’ll want to go home and spend some time with Sandra and the grandchildren. Harry’s got a lot of grandchildren running around the place.

“But as I said to him, you can’t say this is how I’m going to do it, you’ve got to manage it maybe a week in front and be prepared to move things around.”

And Pulis reckons Redknapp’s appointment is a good omen for Blues fans.

“He’s got fantastic experience, he’s a football man,” said Pulis. “He’s a character without a shadow of a doubt, and I’ve known him for a long, long time.

“But he’s a football nut, and he won’t go to Birmingham unless they’ve promised him they’re going to have a go next year. Not a chance. I think there could be good times coming at Birmingham.”