TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has slammed Birmingham over their conduct during Robbie Keane’s failed transfer to St Andrew’s.

Spurs accepted Blues’ £6m bid for Keane last week before the Midlands outfit pulled the plug on the deal, claiming in a statement from acting chairman Peter Pannu that the striker’s wage demands were out of their reach.

Keane, 30, denied those claims earlier this week, suggesting that Birmingham had made such an assertion as part of a publicity stunt.

And Redknapp backed Keane’s stance yesterday, insisting that it was ‘‘unfair’’ of Birmingham to make such a claim about the want-away striker.

‘‘There was never a deal with Birmingham,’’ said Redknapp, who is willing to let the striker leave White Hart Lane this month.

‘‘He never asked Birmingham for money.

‘‘He never got around to discussing a deal with them, so when they said they couldn’t meet his wage demands that was totally unfair on Robbie because he never made any demands. He never even spoke to them.

‘‘I don’t see how the deal could have fallen down on wage demands when he didn’t make any. That’s a strange one.’’ Redknapp completed a major transfer coup on Tuesday when Steven Pienaar opted to join Spurs over Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea.

The versatile midfielder, who excelled during his time at Everton, has signed a fourand- a-half-year contract for a transfer fee thought to be between £2m and £3m.

Pienaar will travel to Newcastle with his new teammates and could make his debut at St James’ Park.

But with the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart already cemented in their positions in the team, Redknapp admits Pienaar has a fight on his hands to earn a first-team spot.

‘‘I couldn’t sit here and say he will take someone’s place.

There is competition for all places,’’ Redknapp said.

‘‘He can play in several positions across midfield. He keeps the ball and he’ll enjoy playing in our team.

‘‘He and (Leighton) Baines were fantastic down the left at Everton.

‘‘We have Gareth Bale who plays wide left so it’s a difficult position to get into.

Aaron (Lennon) has done great as well.

A number of Spurs players could leave the club this month to make way for new arrivals, including Keane, Jamie O’Hara, Giovani dos Santos and Niko Kranjcar.