FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant returns to struggling Portsmouth as director of football

Record ID: 721206

  • Title: FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant returns to struggling Portsmouth as director of football
  • Date: 8th October 2009
  • Summary: FILE - COBHAM, NEAR LONDON, UK (FILE - MAY 14, 2008) (REUTERS) CHELSEA MANAGER AVRAM GRANT WATCHING TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACJ1N08P5ARG4Y7RDVCQKUKY3M
  • Story Text: Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant is returning to the struggling English Premier League club Portsmouth as director of football.
    Israeli Avram Grant has returned to Portsmouth as director of football, the struggling Premier League club said on Wednesday (October 7).
    The 54-year-old, who replaced Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager in September 2007 before being sacked the following May, was technical director at Portsmouth from June 2006 to July 2007.
    Grant's return to Portsmouth followed the takeover this week by Saudi Arabian businessman Ali al Faraj which is expected to stabilise the club's difficult financial position.
    He bought 90 percent of the club's shares from Sulaiman al Fahim who took over in August but was struggling to refinance the mounting debts.
    Paul Hart will remain as manager.
    "The club's new owners want to appoint, with immediate effect, Avram Grant as director of football," chief executive Peter Storrie said on the club's website (www.portsmouthfc.com).
    "Avram's role is to help and advise Paul. Team selection matters will remain with the manager.
    "We now have two very experienced people working together which will only benefit the club."
    Grant's experience will be vital as Portsmouth try to make up ground after losing their opening seven league games of the season, the worst start by any top-flight side for 79 years. Their poor run of form has continued from last season where they just managed to avoid relegation. Only in May 2008, the club had enjoyed one of its most successful days when they won the FA Cup, beating Cardiff City 1-0 in the final.
    "I am happy to return to the best league in the world, the English league," Grant told Israeli sports website (www.one.co.il), adding that he had signed a three-year contract.
    Portsmouth, still bottom despite earning their first points of the season with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (October 3), are next in action against Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
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