NATIONAL SERVICE ... Fergie is backing his pal Harry for the England job

ALEX FERGUSON has warned Tottenham fans it is 'inevitable' they will have to wave goodbye to Harry Redknapp.

And the Manchester United boss believes Spurs' amazing recent progress is sure to be hit by their manager's exit.

Fergie sees Redknapp, 65, as the FA's only realistic candidate to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss.

He expects today's meeting at White Hart Lane to be the last time he goes head-to-head with Redknapp as Spurs chief.

The United chief said: "I think it will be the last time, yes. I see it as inevitable, I really do. I don't see anyone else for England.

"With the public mood about Harry, the FA would be panicking if they couldn't get him.

"The drive and energy is all about Harry and it is the right one. His record is there. The best way to judge anyone is the jobs they have done over a long period, different types of clubs in different situations.

"Whatever way Harry has done it, he has done it well."

Redknapp has worked wonders at Tottenham since he was appointed in October 2008 — turning them from basement boys into title outsiders.

Ferguson believes Spurs have played the best football of any team this year, including his United and rivals Manchester City.

But he feels the exit of their boss will have a negative impact on them — even if only in the short-term.

He said: "If it happens, they are starting again, aren't they?

"That's what happens when a manager of Harry's experience leaves a club like Tottenham, where he has changed the whole thing round for the last few years.

"OK, he will leave a lot of good players there, no doubt about that. But it is that personality, that experience that you miss, or they are going to miss. So I think it will bother them initially."

With the likes of Jose Mourinho and David Moyes mentioned as possible replacements, Ferguson feels Redknapp has put the foundations in place for a bright long-term future.

He said: "Tottenham have got young players, most of the players they have brought are young. Rafael van der Vaart is a good age, 29, Luka Modric is 26.

"I don't know what they are going to do about Emmanuel Adebayor, of course. If they take him on after his loan ends.

"But Gareth Bale is young, Aaron Lennon is young, Kyle Walker is young, Younes Kaboul is a young player too, Sandro is young.

"Scott Parker, at 31, is the only one but he is centre of midfield, so he should be OK. So they have a reasonably young team." Today's trip to White Hart Lane looks like United's most difficult game until they face leaders City on April 30.

If anything, Roberto Mancini's men appear to have the tougher run-in after this weekend — but Fergie believes there are still twists ahead.

He added: "I don't think any game is particularly easy in the run-in as there are a lot issues with regards to pressures on other teams.

"I don't think we will drop many points and neither will City. But there will be points dropped by both teams. It is inevitable.

"It is the nature of this kind of league in the run-in. Maybe there is a factor where the progress of either club in the Europa League will have a lot to do with it.

"Tottenham's the big one, obviously. I'm not taking anything for granted.

"If we can keep the momentum going into the City game — and it will be an important game, the best-man-wins type of thing — then it's not the worst scenario for us."