None of what Harry said about me is true! Bonds breaks silence on feud with old pal Redknapp after autobiography claims

By Matt Lawless for MailOnline

Published: 06:22 EDT, 22 October 2013 | Updated: 10:53 EDT, 22 October 2013

Billy Bonds has broken his 19-year silence on his acrimonious fall out with his old friend and former team-mate Harry Redknapp by responding to claims in his recent autobiography.

In his new book serialised by Sportsmail earlier this month, Redknapp revealed his sadness that the pair have not spoken in almost two decades.

Redknapp replaced Bonds in charge at Upton Park in August 1994, after a year serving as his No 2, and Bonds is angry at Redknapp’s version of events.

Old pals: Harry was Bonds' assistant manager at West Ham for two seasons

Always Managing: My Autobiography by Harry Redknapp with Martin Samuel, published by Ebury on October 10 at £20. © Harry Redknapp 2013. To order a copy for £15.99 (p&p free), call 0844 472 4157.

He agrees with Redknapp’s view that West Ham were ‘a shambles’ when Harry arrived from Bournemouth, but he doesn’t agree with much else.

‘I’ve read the article by Harry Redknapp in the Daily Mail and one or two people have told me what’s written in the book. I’ve got to admit I’m very disappointed with it,' he said, speaking on a podcast for West Ham fanzine site, KUMB.com.

'My first thought about it is that it’s disrespectful to a lot of the players and staff who were over there at the time.'

Bonds reflects on what was the 'worst year' he spent at West Ham when Redknapp was recruited as his assistant.

‘Harry described it as a shambles when he arrived,' said Bonds.

'But it was on the back of the Bond scheme and fans were up in arms, rioting over there, even trying to get in the directors' box and stuff like that.

‘I think up until December [1992] we were halfway up the league. We were going OK. Then the club put out that there was going to be a Bond scheme. The fans were dead against it and there was all kinds of problems over there.

‘In the end, the players in the end had no confidence going out there. I don’t think we won another game until the end of the season. The place was in a mess but there were reasons for that.

Rolling back the years: Redknapp and Bonds play together for West Ham in 1968

The only way is up: West Ham celebrate promotion to the Premier League back in 1993

‘It was probably the worst season in my life. I’d lost my Dad that year in the December, I lost my father-in-law in the April, after an away game at Coventry on the day that we were officially relegated. It was a bad year.

‘Obviously, Harry Redknapp came in on the back of that and it was a bit of a shambles. But I think we would have got it sorted'

Redknapp, however, insisted in his new book Always Managing: My Autobiography, by Harry Redknapp, that Bonds was not double-crossed and that he was offered the opportunity to become the club's director of football.

'The break-up of our friendship still hurts,' wrote Redknapp.

'What pains me is that I no longer have Bill as a friend, because I loved him and there is no way on earth I would have hurt him.

'I would swap still having Bill as a mate for all my seven years as West Ham manager.'

Resignation: Bonds turned down the chance to 'move upstairs' at West Ham in 1994

But Bonds hit back in the interview with Knees Up Mother Brown.

'None of what he said is true,' said Bonds. 'He’s made it up as he’s gone along just to suit his story. So yes, I’m very disappointed in him to say the least.

‘He’s been very liberal with the truth but that’s as much as I expected really.

‘I could get into everything he’s come out with but I don’t think I need to defend myself. It’s a load of nonsense and not a lot of truth about it I’m afraid.

Long wait: It is 19 years since Harry and Bonds last spoke

United in grief: Former West Ham players (L-R) Geoff Hurst, Frank Lampard, Ron Greenwood, Martin Peters, Redknapp, Bonds and Ronnie Boyce pay their respects to the late Bobby Moore after his death in 1993

‘It’s entirely up to you who you want to believe. I’ve got my opinions but I don’t think I need to air my views too much. Like I said, I could go into a lot of things he’s said about me in that book but I could tell you that most of it is utter nonsense.

‘I haven’t spoken to him in 20 years. How he came out with all that stuff... I found it quite pathetic really, to be quite honest.'

Redknapp insisted he would love to reconcile the damaged relationship, saying how he would love to have a 'cup of tea' with the Hammers legend.

But all is certainly not forgiven by 67-year-old Bonds, who clearly remains bitterly upset.