Harry Redknapp has insisted that frustration over failed transfer moves were not behind his decision to resign as Queens Park Rangers manager.
The 67-year-old left Loftus Road on Tuesday just hours after the club had failed to land any targets on transfer deadline day, but he claims that the need for an operation on his knee, rather than a dispute with owner Tony Fernandes, forced his exit.
"My right knee, I had an operation a year or so ago, and I was on crutches at the training ground for about 10 weeks," Redknapp told Sky Sports News
"It has gradually deteriorated again, my right knee, and my left knee has gone exactly the same, so I definitely need one knee replacement and maybe two."
When asked about how eager he was to add new recruits before the deadline, he added: "Tony was keener than I was, the chairman. He was trying for his life, he was non-stop on the phone to me.
"We tried one or two but there was nothing we were close to doing, and I did not push Tony to do any deals."
Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Tim Sherwood is the early favourite to replace Redknapp.