Newcastle United are closing in on their man as they stepped up efforts to lure Harry Redknapp to St James' Park.

Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, did not attend the club's scheduled pre-match press conference today, leaving the training ground as the media gathered amid mounting speculation over his future.

The Tyneside club were preparing to formalise their interest in the 60-year-old by making an approach to Portsmouth for permission to speak to him. Neither club was either confirming or denying that contact has been made this afternoon.

Redknapp's impromptu departure and the fact that Chris Mort, the Newcastle chairman, was away from his desk added fuel to the fire as the former West Ham United manager was backed down to an overwhelming 1/7 favourite to take over with Ladbrokes.

Portsmouth moved quickly last night to make their position clear, insisting Redknapp was happy where he was and committed to the club's future, but there is a growing acceptance that his days at Fratton Park could be numbered amid rumours that talks over a compensation package are already under way.

Redknapp, who was driven away from the training ground by Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth chief executive, had earlier played his cards close to his chest, re-iterating yesterday's insistence that he had heard nothing.

The manager, whose side play Sunderland on Sunday, said: "To say a deal has already been done is absolute rubbish. I couldn't say anything else because that's the situation.

"There has been no approach. All I'm doing is trying to get a couple of players in before the Sunderland game, but I haven't got anywhere with that.

"Nobody from Newcastle has contacted me and in any case, that wouldn't be allowed. Nobody has contacted Peter Storrie."

However, the signs are that things have progressed rapidly since then with Newcastle hoping to install Sam Allardyce's replacement in plenty of time to make an impact in the January transfer window.

The vacancy at St James' has been described in some quarters as a poisoned chalice, but one of its former manager believes it is one of the biggest jobs in the domestic game. Jim Smith, a close friend of Redknapp, said: "Age is not a problem - Harry's a spring chicken. Sir Alex Ferguson has got seven years on him and he is still going strong, so there's no danger on that front.

"Newcastle is a big club too. It is one of the biggest jobs in English football - in fact, it is one of the biggest jobs in European football."

Redknapp's favouritism saw Mark Hughes, the Blackburn Rovers manager, slip in the betting after making a strong showing yesterday, although he was quick to distance himself from the Newcastle job. "There is always speculation when any big job comes up," Hughes said. "I seem to be talked about in good terms and I'm appreciative of that, but it's just recognition of the work myself and my staff do here.

"I have not spoken to anyone from Newcastle. I spoke to my chairman last night and he has had no contact, and I don't think there will be any contact."