- Paul Hart sacked as Portsmouth manager
- Grant favourite to succeed Hart
Hart was shown the exit door at Fratton Park after guiding the club to just seven points from their opening 13 games, leaving them rock bottom of the Premier League table.
Grant, who was given the role of director of football in October but is yet to receive a work permit, has been installed as the bookies' favourite to take charge of struggling Pompey on a full-time basis.
Darren Ferguson, who was last week sacked by Championship new boys Peterborough United, was initially believed to be in-line for the position but former Chelsea boss Grant now appears to be the frontrunner.
Pompey director Mark Jacob said: "It was not an easy decision to take. But the fact was our results haven't been good enough.
"We should have more points by now and it was felt a change was needed to ensure the club's Premier League survival.
"We believe we have the ideal man to remedy the situation in Avram and are still waiting for confirmation of his work permit.
"He will take charge of team affairs as soon as that is in place. Until then, first team coaches Ian Woan and Paul Groves will be in charge."
Portsmouth host champions Manchester United on Saturday knowing that a third successive defeat could potentially leave them seven points away from safety.
Despite Portsmouth's lowly position in the table, Hart's job had looked relatively secure until consecutive defeats to Blackburn and Stoke caused Al-Faraj to act.
The former Nottingham Forest manager was offered a role as technical director in charge of developing the club's 18 to 21-year olds but he turned it down.
Chief executive Peter Storrie added: '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."
- Joe Strange
Source: DSG
