The Pompey boss insisted the Blues owe their Premier League status to the departing Portugal international.

Redknapp stated the £3m move to Scotland was necessary to balance the books, although there were other players he would rather have seen leave.

And he revealed he is still desperate to bring in three more loan signings before the end of the transfer window.

Jerome Thomas yesterday completed a year-long loan move from Charlton, but Redknapp feels his squad is still well short of the depth it needs.

He accepted Mendes had to go after spending money on six arrivals so far this summer.

But it was still disappointing to see the fans' favourite leave.
Redknapp said: 'I'm sorry to lose Pedro.

'I love him as a fella and a player. He's a great pro and a great person.

'But I had to get some money in. They are the rules of the game. That's why he had to go.

'We wouldn't be sitting here now if it wasn't for him. That's a fact.

'He kept us up that year when he scored that goal against Manchester City. No doubt about that.

'Pedro would have been in my team tomorrow. Without a shadow of a doubt.
'I have to balance the books, though.

'I had great offers for one or two other players, but they didn't want to move.

'They are quite happy to stay here and do what they do.

'The owner can't keep funding it. It's not a bottomless pit.

'So in the end we had to accept the offer for Pedro.'

Redknapp refused to rule out more players being sold before the close of the transfer window at the end of the month.

And he stated he was ready to send David Nugent out on loan.

But he underlined the need for numbers to sustain a heavy fixture list for his men this season.

He said: 'We are short of three players.

'That is what we need to be a squad who can compete on the domestic front and try to have a run in Europe.

'We mi-ght have to sell another one, but if ano-ther one goes that's another loan I need.

'Ipswich are interested in David, but he didn't want to go there. He needs to play games, though.

'There is no money left to spend on signings now, but we have spent good money.

'The owner has backed me and I can't fault what he has done in the last couple of years. There are great players here.

'But we are still short of cover in a few areas.'

Meanwhile, Redknapp has welcomed the arrival of Thomas from Charlton Athletic.

The winger completed his season-long loan move yesterday and goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's Premier League opener at Chelsea.

Redknapp said: 'He is a good loan signing.

'He is a player with talent who will play games here this season.'

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