Tottenham wanted to keep Woodgate

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wanted to keep Jonathan Woodgate, despite the player leaving for Stoke City in the summer.

"I wanted to keep Jonathan. I wouldn't have let him go," said Redknapp.

"I asked him to come back to train but the secretary said he couldn't because of the insurance. That was the problem.

"He was convinced he was fit again.

"It was gutting but I can see the club's point of view. He had barely kicked a ball in two years."