FOOTBALL : Avram Grant has insisted he is looking forward to taking over as Portsmouth manager and keeping the club in the Premier League.
Avram Grant has insisted he is looking forward to taking over as Portsmouth manager and keeping the club in the Premier League.
Grant was due to receive his work permit for his director of football role this week and the club have revealed he will at first continue to work in this capacity.
However, the 54-year-old was unveiled as the replacement for Paul Hart at Fratton Park on Friday and he told a press conference: “It’s a big challenge. I think we deserve to stay in the Premier League and that’s my main concern.”
Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie added: “Avram is taking charge of the team as director of football.
“He will be appointed as and when he receives a change to his work permit – they are the rules and regulations in this country.
“He’s not the manager yet – but will become it, which we hope will be next week.”
Grant, appointed technical director of Portsmouth in 2006 prior to a spell at Chelsea, continued: “I came here as director of football and I think that’s a very important position in clubs.
“I did the job when I came in 2006 – it was good for me and the club, I enjoyed it very much. I came to help the club and I’m happy to do it also now.
“I need to do a good job because the team are not in a good position. I love this club.
“I’ve have had many situations in my life. Chelsea was different – I went there when they were in a bit of a crisis, they were on the way down – and the result was good in the end.”
