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Hart " I look like an Owl but the made me a Scapegoat instead"


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Portsmouth part company with Hart Portsmouth manager Paul Hart has left the Premier League's basement club with immediate effect. The club said the decision to relieve him of his duties had been "made reluctantly based on results that leave Pompey at the bottom of the league". Hart, 56, was offered a role as technical director responsible for players aged 18-21, but declined it. Coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan take temporary charge, with director of football Avram Grant tipped to be boss. Former Chelsea boss Grant, 54, returned to Pompey in October, but the Israeli is currently awaiting a work permit and has yet to formally take up his duties. Pompey expect the permit to be processed within the next few days. Grant worked in a similar role previously at Fratton Park before joining the Stamford Bridge club in the same capacity. He then succeeded Jose Mourinho and guided Chelsea to the Champions League final where they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Darren Ferguson, who recently left his post as Peterborough manager, was installed as 2/1 favourite to succeed Hart late on Tuesday with Grant at 5/2 second favourite. Chief executive Peter Storrie admitted Hart had "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 stepped up from his position as director of youth operations to become caretaker manager following the sacking of Tony Adams in February 2009. He kept Portsmouth in the top flight last season and was appointed on a permanent basis in July. But Portsmouth lost several high-profile players over the summer, and the team made a poor start to the current campaign. However, Hart was working under severe financial restraints due to uncertainty over the club's ownership which left it on the verge of going into administration. Arab businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim purchased Portsmouth in August but failed to deliver fresh investment, with the players' wages not paid on time in September. He then sold his majority shareholding to Saudi tycoon Ali Al Faraj in October, but Hart's hopes for stability were then hit by the Premier League placing a transfer embargo on Pompey over debts owed to other clubs. Portsmouth have three consecutive home matches ahead, with Manchester United's visit on Saturday followed by a Carling Cup clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday and a league tussle with Burnley four days later.

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ortsmouth have confirmed Avram Grant will take over as manager to replace the sacked Paul Hart at Fratton Park. Hart was relieved of his duties earlier this week following a disappointing start to the season which has left Pompey bottom of the Premier League.Former Chelsea boss Grant initially appeared not to be in contention to succeed Hart, with ex-Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson installed as favourite for the job.However, Pompey held talks with Grant regarding the position on Wednesday and have now confirmed the Israeli as the club's new manager.Grant had been appointed as director of football by Pompey last month and had been awaiting a work permit to get stuck into his role.He has now received the necessary clearance to start work and will be in the dugout for Pompey's home date with champions Manchester United on Saturday.RespectedPompey chief executive Peter Storrie told the club's official website: "Avram is a very experienced and respected manager who has managed at the highest level. "The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone."He knows the club, the players and the set-up at Fratton Park, so it was the logical move to make him the next manager, once the board had decided to relieve Paul Hart of the role."He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan."Grant had previously been director of football at Portsmouth in 2006/07 before he joined Chelsea in a similar position, later replacing Jose Mourinho as manager.For Saturday's game against United, he will take charge in his capacity as director of football, with Pompey needing to acquire a new sponsorship number from the Football Association in order to change his permit status to become manager.
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