SOCCER:Harry Redknapp was in two minds about becoming Newcastle United's latest manager last night. Sources at Portsmouth believe he may be wavering about leaving Fratton Park for St James' Park and the chances of him accepting yesterday's offer are "about 50-50".

The Portsmouth manager returned to his home on the Dorset coast yesterday afternoon before heading to London with his wife, Sandra. They were spotted having supper at a restaurant last night and presumably spent the evening debating his footballing future.

Earlier in the day Redknapp had indicated a desire to "sleep on things" before reaching a final decision, thereby disappointing Newcastle officials who had hoped he would fly to Tyneside for talks followed by a tour of the club and area.

Chris Mort, Newcastle's chairman, is believed to have made a formal approach for Redknapp yesterday morning, which was rejected.

Considering that the Portsmouth manager is understood to have a release clause fixed at about €2 million in his contract, such a rebuff is fairly academic but did, at least, give the south coast club more time in which to possibly change their manager's mind.

The approach apparently arrived shortly before Redknapp's scheduled weekly press conference, which he was due to hold at the club's training ground yesterday lunchtime.

At short notice he delegated the media duties to his first-team coach, Joe Jordan, and was seen being escorted away from the ground by Peter Storrie, Portsmouth's chief executive.

Should Redknapp inform Storrie that he wants to leave, Portsmouth are likely to place Tony Adams, their assistant manager, in charge for at least the remainder of the season. Whatever happens, Adams - who is highly regarded within the club and would be the favourite to fill a managerial vacancy - may well manage the team at Sunderland tomorrow.

If Redknapp is torn between staying in an environment he clearly enjoys and accepting what would almost certainly be the biggest challenge of his career, Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner who was in east Asia on business yesterday, and Mort are adamant that the 60-year-old is the man they want to succeed Sam Allardyce.

They have promised to give Redknapp one of the highest salaries in football along with a generous transfer budget.

Rumours that Redknapp would commute daily to Tyneside from the south coast, possibly by private jet, can be discounted, though, the Portsmouth manager having already told friends that such plans are impractical and he would rather rent a property in the north-east.

In the event of Redknapp declining their overtures Newcastle are expected to turn their attentions to Mark Hughes of Blackburn Rovers. Before buying Newcastle, Ashley developed an admiration for and an acquaintance with Hughes during visits to Ewood Park when representing one of his sportswear companies which had a commercial involvement with Rovers.