The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary has named former football manager and player Harry Redknapp as its new patron.

The Mabe-based charity announced the exciting coup of the 73-year-old on Sunday after several days of speculation on its Facebook page as to who the mystery patron could be.

Harry is well known among football fans, having managed AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City during an illustrious 34-year managerial career, with much of it spent in the top division of English football.

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Some of his greatest achievements include winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008 and being named Premier League Manager of the Season while with Tottenham in 2010.

His most recent managerial post was with Birmingham in 2017.

Harry also represented West Ham and Bournemouth during a 17-year playing career from 1965 to 1982, during which he also turned out for Brentford and Seattle Sounders.

Away from football, Harry won the 2018 series of ITV reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

Harry is also a patron of several Dorset-based charities, including the Julia's House children's hospice, the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation and Round Table Children's Wish.

Flicka cares for over 100 donkeys, horses and ponies at its sanctuary in Mabe, all of whom have been rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment.

The charity re-opened its gates earlier this month after closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.