Grant given chance at Portsmouth helm

Former Chelsea FC and Israel coach Avram Grant is to be appointed the new manager of Portsmouth FC.

Relegation struggle
The 54-year-old, who won Israeli titles with Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, returned to Portsmouth earlier this season for his second spell as technical director and succeeds Paul Hart with the side bottom of the Premier League. According to a club statement Grant, who led Chelsea to the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, "will take charge of the team for the home game against Manchester United at Fratton Park on Saturday in his capacity as director of football, having been granted his work permit. The club will then go through the process of making the technical change that will allow Avram to become manager. This involves acquiring a new sponsorship number from the Football Association to change his permit status."