Grant has his Portsmouth return delayed further by death of his father

19 October 2009 12:28
Avram Grant's troubled return to English football has hit another snag after it emerged he will be away from Fratton Park for another week, following the death of his father. Controversially appointed director of football at crisis club Portsmouth, the former Chelsea manager had already suffered a frustrating wait for a work permit when he was summoned to his father's bedside in a Tel Aviv hospital on Saturday night. Grant was still there an hour later when 82-year old Meir succumbed to a long illness. Though the funeral was held today (Sunday), Grant will remain in Israel to follow the Jewish custom of observing a seven-day mourning period at the family home. It will almost certainly mean the 54-year old, who has already received messages of sympathy from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and even former Prime Minister Tony Blair, will not be back in time for next weekend's key Barclays Premier League relegation showdown at Hull City. Portsmouth were already in disarray after seeing ownership of the club change hands twice in a matter of weeks and sinking to the foot of the table. Grant's appointment was meant to bring some stability to the chaos, yet it has been dogged by work permit problems and now a family bereavement, as well as a frank admission from under-pressure manager Paul Hart that he was not consulted over the move.

Source: Daily_Mail