HONESTLY, I am lost for words over Harry Redknapp. Don’t all cheer at once!

Because never in the field of sporting conflict have so many been so disappointed by so few. So stand up David Bernstein, Adrian Bevington (who?), Alex Horne (who?) and Sir Trevor Brooking. Take a bow. What have you done?

This is the motley crew who have just condemned England to the international wilderness for the next four years by appointing a yes man in Roy Hodgson.

We shouldn’t be surprised or angry with this calamitous decision to snub ’Arry because it just reflects the incompetence and ineptitude of the Football Association. We are used to it.

FACT: Ignore the people’s choice.

FACT: Ignore the Press’ choice.

FACT: Ignore the players’ choice.

Brian Clough will be rocking in his grave.

I have never met Bernstein, Bevington or Horne. Thank goodness for that. But I had plenty of dealings with Sir Trev. He was nicknamed Hadleigh in his playing days for West Ham and England – and what a player. Fabulous.

He never forgave me for the public rollicking I gave him during my only international appearance – for the England Press against the Republic of Ireland Press at Kenilworth Road, Luton.

I was doing my Bobby Moore bit at the back and we were coasting 5-1. Then the booze took its toll and the Irish came back. Sir Trev, puffing and blowing, lost the midfield so I told him in no uncertain terms to “pull your *!*!*!* finger out”.

He did and we won 5-4. I still cherish my one cap – a white handkerchief with four knots, in each corner.

I have nothing personal against Hodgson. But he is not the man to bring the smile back to the face of English football after the shame of Capello who was paid a total of £24m to make England a laughing-stock in world football.

It is a political decision and a financial one. Why pay £15m to release ’Arry from his contract at Spurs when you can get Woy for nowt?

And ’Arry might embarrass us because he talks like someone out of Eastenders.

The FA still have catastrophic debts over the rebuilding of the new Wembley and a multi-million pound commitment to a new football academy at Burton, which is just a white elephant.

The only way to inspire future generations is in the performance of the senior team and that won’t happen under Hodgson because he is just another stereotype from the coaching manual.

He will be ridiculed the minute it goes wrong – and it will – with cries of “We Want ’Arry”.

It will be the shortest honeymoon period in English football history.

Roger Legg is proprietor and mechanic supreme of the Casterbridge Motor Company in Dorchester and knows his football.

“I am astonished by the decision,” he says. “How can someone be such a favourite for the job and not even get an interview? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Who can forget the enduring image of Hodgson this season? Of him banging the back of his head in frustration in the dug-out.

It is nothing to what he will suffer as England boss.