If Harry Redknapp had wanted to deny that he was interested in the manager’s job at Newcastle United, he had the perfect opportunity to do so at Portsmouth’s weekly press conference at midday today - and he ducked it.

With representatives of all the national newspapers and television channels present at the club’s rainswept training ground in Eastleigh, Redknapp could have set out his position, or told the waiting media whether or not he had received an approach - heck, he could even have said that he had nothing to say – but instead word was sent via a press officer that Redknapp had left the building.

At that point, many journalists set off round the corner to Southampton airport to see if they could spot the Portsmouth boss getting into a private jet bound for Newcastle, notwithstanding the fact that Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, is reported to be in Hong Kong.

Others stayed to hear whether Joe Jordan, the coach, could shed any light on the situation. Beyond the intelligence that he and Redknapp had “had a laugh and a joke about the speculation” this morning, he could not.

Whatever Redknapp’s intention was in avoiding a chance to have his say, the general assumption was that his non-appearance confirmed that he would be off to the North East, and not just for Sunday’s match against Sunderland.