Portsmouth sack Paul Hart as former Chelsea boss Avram Grant is lined up as replacement

24 November 2009 19:49
Avram Grant is set to be named as the new Portsmouth manager after Paul Hart was sacked.[LNB]Former Chelsea manager Grant, who recently returned to the club as director of football, is likely to take over with the club rooted to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.[LNB] Look who's back: Avram Grant has taken the Pompey hotseat[LNB]Pompey are currently four points off safety as their fight to hold on to their place in the top-flight.[LNB]Hart, who rejected an offer to stay on at the club coaching younger players, won many admirers for his work during a troubled period of the club - which included two takeovers - but he has run out of time in his bid to reverse the club's decline.[LNB]His final act was watching his side's 1-0 defeat away to Stoke onSunday. It was the club's 10th loss in 13 league games this season.[LNB]Hartwas severely restricted by the summer firesale at Fratton Park that sawstar players such as Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Niko Kranjcar leave.[LNB] Final blow: Ricardo Fuller fires home Stoke's winner against Portsmouth[LNB]'Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that Paul Hart has beenrelieved of his duties as first-team manager,' read a Portsmouthstatement.[LNB]'The decision has been made reluctantly by the board and is based onresults that leave the club at the bottom of the Premier League.[LNB]'Paul was offered the role of technical director, developing players from the ages of 18-21, but declined the position.[LNB]'The club plans to announce a replacement very quickly and untilthat time the players will be led by first team coaches Paul Groves andIan Woan.'[LNB] All over: Paul Hart was unable to boost Pompey's results[LNB]Chief executive Peter Storrie added: 'Paul has worked under very difficult circumstances with the financial restrictions the club has faced since he took over.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'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.'.[LNB] Portsmouth's Hart of steel: The man with the hardest job is hanging onThe return of Avram: Grant's back in bid to help Hart and save PortsmouthEXCLUSIVE: Pay up Pompey - Bottom club hit by Premier League transfer banEXCLUSIVE: Show me the money! No pay for struggling Portsmouth playersPORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail