Harry Redknapp is expected to return to Portsmouth today to accept the freedom of the city only three days after leaving to become the manager of Tottenham Hotspur. But whether Redknapp will be warmly welcomed is open to question after he admitted that he is interested in taking Jermain Defoe, Portsmouth's top scorer, back to White Hart Lane.

Redknapp paid £7.5million to bring Defoe to Fratton Park from Tottenham late on transfer deadline day in January, and he said yesterday: “If he ever came back up for sale, then I'm sure we would be interested.”

In the meantime, Redknapp has no qualms about joining his former players in receiving the civic honour today. “I am proud they have given me that and I wouldn't not take it,” he said. “It was given to me for what I did at Portsmouth, for winning the [FA] Cup and what I did at the club, so why shouldn't I go back there? I think they want me to go and do it and I am very proud to. It is not a problem. I will have to finish training and drive back there rather sharpish.”

Redknapp's presence will be a reminder that the good times being celebrated will very soon become a thing of the past if the club do not act promptly to address their future beyond the Barclays Premier League match away to Liverpool, the leaders, tomorrow evening. Tony Adams, the assistant manager, will be in charge of the team in tandem with Joe Jordan, the head coach, for “the foreseeable future” according to Peter Storrie, the chief executive. Strong performances in the next few games would increase Adams' chances of getting the job on a permanent basis; William Hill have cut his odds from 5-2 to 2-5 favourite.

Sam Allardyce, the former Bolton Wanderers manager, who was sacked by Newcastle United, is also interested and - like Redknapp - has shown that he can keep smaller clubs punching above their weight thanks to shrewd moves in the transfer market. Avram Grant, the former Chelsea manager and Portsmouth technical director, who was brought to the South Coast by Alexandre Gaydamak, the owner, in June 2006, is also being mentioned, as is Alan Curbishley, who overachieved most seasons at Charlton Athletic. “I've heard so many names, but it's just too soon to think or contemplate what we're going to do,” Storrie said. “Avram's a nice lad and I'm sure that he'll be linked with it, as will the world and his mate, quite frankly.”

However, contrary to reports that Adams was discussing his prospects with Gaydamak and Storrie yesterday, Portsmouth insisted that the former Arsenal and England captain had spent the day in Oxfordshire with his children while the other two men were holding a pre-arranged meeting in London.

Storrie has said that there will be “a lot of discussion” before the club settle on a new manager, but Adams must be in a strong position. He represents continuity, is unlikely to be under any illusions about the financial state of the club and has made no secret of his desire to return to management after an unsuccessful period in charge of Wycombe Wanderers in 2003-04. Redknapp said last season that nothing would please him more than to see Adams succeed him at Fratton Park.

Defoe, meanwhile, has spoken of the effect Redknapp's departure had on the team in the 1-1 draw at home to Fulham on Sunday. “When you're out there, it's a bit difficult when you look over to the dugout and he's not there,” he said. Come January, of course, Defoe might be seeing Redknapp in his team's dugout once again.