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Harry Redknapp has achieved some incredible things as a football manager.

But if he keeps Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, it will top the lot.

I both played and managed at Loftus Road, so QPR will always be special to me.

And I can say, hand on heart, that before Harry came to the rescue, I thought Rangers were in a mess and heading for ­certain relegation.

Too many players had been signed on big wages much too quickly. If you parachute a dozen new people into any business that already has 20 or so loyal employees then you are asking for trouble.

And success in ­football has always been about evolution rather than revolution.

I’ve got to say that when Rangers appointed ­Redknapp, I thought they were already doomed. But beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night was the ­result of the season so far.

Now I’ve got hope for my old club. And, more ­importantly, every QPR player and ­supporter will believe that anything is now ­possible.

Rangers have never been flash.

They are based in Steptoe & Son territory and the fans want honest ­players who ­represent what the club is all about rather than a bunch Champagne Charlies.

Harry has started knocking the ­players he inherited into shape.

They already look more ­organised and motivated.

And playing Adel Taarabt as a central striker and freeing him of any defensive duties was a tactical ­masterstroke.

There’s still plenty of work to do between now and the end of the season, of course. But if Rangers stay up it will confirm that football has its own Harry Houdini.

Redknapp kept Portsmouth in the top-flight against the odds and then won the FA Cup for Pompey.

He guided Tottenham into the Champions League ­playing a brand of football that was as good as anything the Premier League has seen.

Transforming QPR would beat them all.

Pardew's a worker not a shirker

(Image: Matthew Lewis)

Alan Pardew signed an eight-year contract with Newcastle at the start of the season.

But I'm not having it that season season's Manager of the Year is now in a comfort zone.

Expectations went through the roof during the summer after Toon finished fifth in the Premier League.

But circumstances have contrived against Pardew.

A squad that was lightweight in terms of numbers has been hit by injuries to top players such as Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa.

The players that have remained healthy have been drained by the weighty commitments of the Europa League.

And Papiss Cisse has not been hitting the back of the net like last season.

Now, Pardew has been forced to sell Demba Ba, too.

It is a big test of the Newcastle manager's ability. but I am certain he will be up to the task.

Anyone with the courage to say that Sir Alex Ferguson should have been punished for confronting match officials isn't going to shirk a challenge.

Refs must have Premier standards

(Image: Charlie Crowhurst)

Football is played by different rules in the Premier League.

Referees in the top flight clamp down on any tackle that carries even the slightest risk.

In the division below, anything goes.

Since I took charge at Crystal Palace, I have been absolutely thrilled to have inherited a group of players who want to pass, move and entertain the people who pay our wages.

Unfortunately, teams have worked out that the best way to stop us is to kick us.

I don’t want to be a whinging so-and-so - I loved a full-blooded tackle when I was a player - but refs seem to be turning a blind eye to the black arts.

And it is doing the game a huge disservice.

Click here for Ian Holloway on why he has sympathy for Mario Balotelli.