Football Talk - Grant for Portsmouth after Hart sacking - 25/11/09
Portsmouth's technical director Avram Grant has been tipped to become the club's new manager following the sacking of Paul Hart. Hart was dismissed after the club's poor start to the season left them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Portsmouth's most recent defeat came at Stoke City on Sunday, when they were beaten 1-0 at the Britannia. The club said Hart's successor would be appointed "very quickly" with director of football Avram Grant the early favourite.
Portsmouth said in a statement that Hart was "relieved of his duties'', and stressed the decision was taken "reluctantly'' and on the basis of recent results.
Chief executive Peter Storrie said on the club's website: "Paul has worked under very difficult circumstances with the financial restrictions the club has faced since he took over. However, the board feels that the team should have accrued more points to date and that we need a new man in charge to ensure Premier League survival. The board would like to thank Paul for his work not only in keeping the club in the Premier League last season but also for his time in charge of youth development. Paul is a man of great dignity and we hoped he would stay and help us develop younger players on the fringes of the first team. We are genuinely sad to see him leave. Everyone at the club wishes him well for the future.''
Hart was Portsmouth's director of youth operations until being handed the chance to take over from former manager Tony Adams in February this year, initially as caretaker boss. After the team avoided relegation, Hart was named as Portsmouth's full-time manager in July, however they began this season with seven straight league defeats.
Former Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has tipped Grant to take over. "Avram's there and he worked with me there. He's managed Chelsea,'' Redknapp told Sky Sports News. "I'd be surprised if he didn't end up taking it. It's a good opportunity for him to get back into management. But I don't know, only he'd know what he wants to do. He would be my choice if anyone was to take it.''
