HARRY Redknapp’s return to St Mary’s with QPR this weekend brings back memories of his controversial 12-month reign as Saints manager in 2004/05.

Here, the Daily Echo looks back at one of the most remarkable stories in Premier League history.

October 2004.

30: Redknapp wins Premiership manager ofmonth award after Pompeydefeat Manchester United 2-0 at Fratton Park.

NOVEMBER 2004.

15: Redknapp reads reports that former Panthinaikos bossVelimir Zajec will be broughtin as director of football.

“I didn’t deserve to wake up in the morning and see allthat rubbish, especially afterthe job I’ve done in the last two and a half years,” he says.

Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric said: “Harry’s agreat guy, he’s a very experiencedmanager and I don’t think he would leave at all, he’s got no reason to.”

16: Redknapp says he doesn’t have a problem with Mandaric bringing in Velimir Zajec as executive director.

24: After only one gameunder the new continental structure – a 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City –Redknapp quits Fratton Park,citing personal reasons. States he will take a breakfrom football.

27: Saints can only draw 2-2 at home to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace. Reports claim Pompey paid players’ agents more than £3m during Redknapp’s twoand-a-half-year reign.

30: Six days after quitting Pompey, Redknapp takes the unusual step of appearing at a press conference alongside Mandaric. Redknapp maintains he had nothing to hide from the transfer deals conducted at Pompey during his time as manager.

Mandaric issues statement stating his comments about payments to agents were misconstrued.

DECEMBER 2004.

4: Saints lose 3-0 at OldTrafford in what proves to be Steve Wigley’s last game in charge.

8: Redknapp is appointed Saints boss with the club third from bottom of the Premiership with 12 points from 16 games.

11: Saints lead Boro 2-0 with a minute to go at St Mary’s but draw 2-2.

18: Saints are thumped 5-1 atSpurs.

JANUARY 2005.

3: Redknapp signs his son, Jamie, from Spurs.

8: Redknapp gets his first winas Saints defeat Northampton 3-1 in the FA Cup.

22: Redknapp’s first leaguewin as Saints beat Liverpool 2-0 at St Mary’s.

29: Saints knock Pompey outof the FA Cup 2-1, Peter Crouch scoring a last-minute penalty winner.

FEBRUARY 2005.

6: Everton score a late, late equaliser to draw 2-2 at StMary’s.

MARCH 2005.

14: Redknapp’s first away win as Saints boss – Crouch scoring twice in a 3-1 successat Middlesbrough. Redknapp is voted Premiership manager of the month for second time of the season.

APRIL 2005.

16: After leading Aston Villa 2-0 at St Mary’s, Saints lose 3-2, current Saint Steven Davis on target for Villa.

24: Redknapp suffers a humiliating 4-1 defeat on his return to Fratton Park.

30: Late Henri Camara goal gives Saints an amazing 4-3 win over Norwich to raise hopes of avoiding the drop.

MAY 2005.

7: Danny Higginbotham’s late leveller keeps Saints’ hopes alive in a 2-2 draw with Palace.

15: A 2-1 home defeat againstManchester United sees Saints relegated.

16: Rupert Lowe says he is hoping for a quick decision from Redknapp over his future after the Saints boss asked for a few days to consider his position following the club’s relegation.

23: Saints confirm Redknapp will stay but his assistant Jim Smith goes.

JULY 2005.

4: Redknapp reveals that Clive Woodward will join Saints as technical director.

20: Peter Crouch, the player Redknapp has always said is crucial to Saints’ chances in 2004/05, leaves for £7m.

25: Woodward arrives.

AUGUST 2005.

9: Saints concede in the last minute to lose 3-2 at a Luton outfit who were two divisions below them a few months earlier.

29: Redknapp’s men start a club record run of eight successive league draws with a 1-1 stalemate at Coventry.

31: The transfer window slams shut with Redknapp, one of English football’s great wheeler dealers, able only to spend £90,000 on Pompey striker Ricardo Fuller.

SEPTEMBER 2005.

20: Redknapp selects a below strength side and watches them lose 1-0 at Mansfield, who are third-bottom of the Football League, in the Carling Cup.

29: Redknapp and Woodward hold a press conference together to deny a whole spat of reports that they don’t get on.

OCTOBER 2005.

29: First league win since August as Saints defeat Stoke 2-0 at home, with Theo Walcott scoring for the third match running.

NOVEMBER 2005.

15: Head of sports science Simon Clifford resigns after upsetting coaching staff with various interviews. Redknapp speaks out a few days later to say Clifford was doing nothing new.

19: Clifford launches a public attack on Redknapp and his training methods. Saints lead 3-0 against Leeds only to concede four goals in the last 19 minutes.

21: Redknapp says he is being ‘worn down’ by all the off-field ‘crap’ at Saints.

26: Saints draw 0-0 at Wolvesto leave them having won just a quarter of their opening 20 league matches. Redknapp has tasted victory in just nine of his 42 leaguegames in charge.

DECEMBER 2006.

1: Fails to appear for scheduled press conference after Mandaric says he will be asking Saints for permission to speak to Redknapp. Lowe then turns down Pompey’s approach.

7: Appointed manager of Portsmouth for a second time.