Hendy Group has partnered with Dorset-based former football manager turned pundit Harry Redknapp, naming him as a brand ambassador for its Land Rover dealerships.

Redknapp has close ties to the south coast where the motor group currently operates its Land Rover franchises in Christchurch, Salisbury and Southampton.

Hendy chief executive Paul Hendy said: “We’re thrilled to have Harry on board as our Land Rover ambassador and the timing is perfect with the recent addition of the JLR dealership in Hampshire to our expanding portfolio."

The dealer group acquired its £29.7m JLR showroom in Southampton from Inchcape in November.

“Harry is such a well-loved person with such a great footballing pedigree and is one of the area’s most well-known celebrities. We are really looking forward to working closely with Harry and collaborating on a number of projects,” Hendy added.

In an interview last year, Redknapp told Top Gear Magazine he “loves a Range Rover” and has owned four.

As brand ambassador, Rednapp will be involved in a range of activities for the group, virtually, and once Covid restrictions are lifted, in person at Hendy events.

He said he was delighted to be joining forces with the dealer group and getting involved in motoring projects: “I’ve always been a fan of the Land Rover brand and Hendy is a well-established and respected name in the industry. I’m really excited to get started as its new ambassador.”