Billericay Town boss Jamie O'Hara feels Harry Redknapp helped to save his life

O’Hara hit rock bottom in his personal and footballing life after enduring a difficult spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But the 33-year-old, who also works as a radio presenter for TalkSport, will never forget the part Redknapp played in helping him.

“Harry Redknapp was massive for me and I would go as far as to say he almost saved my life a little bit,” said O’Hara.

“When I left Wolves I was out of football for about six months.

“No-one would give me an opportunity because I had this stigma around me that was rubbish.

“I had to just accept it but Harry phoned me when he was manager of QPR and said, ‘listen, come in here’.

“He said he couldn’t offer me anything but said I was too good to be sat at home.

“He said I could go in every day to get fit and to get back in a football environment with the first team.

“It was to keep me going until something came up and it was the biggest breath of fresh air I could ever have got.

“I was training with Premier League players again and Harry had his arm round me.

“QPR were just fantastic for me and I never even played for QPR.

“I wasn’t contracted to them but people started phoning Harry asking if I was training and he was telling them I was fit.”

O’Hara ended up joining Blackpool where he was voted player of the year, But the former midfielder now uses his own experiences to help his squad at Billericay.

“It’s been great that I’ve been through things so I’ve been able to notice it in players,” said O’Hara.

I can go to them straight away and try and put my arm round them. It would be very easy as a manager to just get rid of someone who isn’t doing it on the pitch but I’ll look at why he’s not doing it and what’s going on in his personal life.

“I’m in the group chat with the boys and if I see someone has been quiet I’ll text them.”

>O’Hara was talking to the Echo backed ‘Run Free’ podcast which is available to listen to this weekend.