Portsmouth have moved quickly to name Avram Grant as their new manager, after parting company with Paul Hart on Tuesday.
The former Chelsea boss returned for a second spell at the club in October and when news broke of Hart’s sacking, it always seemed, from the sports betting odds, likely that Grant would take up the post.
He had been working as the club’s director of football and will continue in that role temporarily, until changes are made to his work permit.
Chief executive Peter Storrie said: “He knows the club, players and set-up so it was logical to make him manager,”
Grant originally worked at Fratton Park for a short spell in the summer of 2007 but he wasn’t widely recognised in England until a few months later, when he became Chelsea manager, following the departure of Jose Mourinho.
Despite leading the club to second place in the Premier League table and to within a John Terry slip of Champions League glory, Grant was dismissed at the end of the 2007-08 season, with many citing his low profile within the game as the determining factor.
The Israeli has been out of management since but Storrie believes that he is the man to save Portsmouth’s ailing season.
“Avram is a very experienced and respected manager who has managed at the highest level,” said Storrie.
“The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone.
“He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan.”
The future of Grant’s predecessor, Paul Hart, is still unclear, with reports suggesting that he is considering an offer to work within youth development at the club.
If he was to take the position, it would represent a full circle in Hart’s career, as the 56 year old was director of youth operations, before taking over as manager in February.
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