NExt Mission Avram Grant Portsmouth Chief Executive

NExt Mission Avram Grant Portsmouth Chief Executive

Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth chief executive, yesterday promised Paul Hart his job as manager is safe despite Avram Grant's reappointment as director of football.
Grant has made a surprise return to Fratton Park, becoming Saudi Arabian billionaire Ali al-Faraj's first major change as Portsmouth owner since taking over this week. The appointment of the former Chelsea manager raises immediate doubts over the future of Hart, who has presided over Portsmouth's worst start to the season in their 111-year history.
Storrie insists Grant, who spent a year as Portsmouth's technical director when Harry Redknapp was manager in 2006, has been bought in to assist Hart in keeping the club in the Premier League and not to replace him. "Avram is coming in as director of football, that has been made abundantly clear," Storrie said. "Avram wants to get back to being involved in the Premier League. He did the same role with Harry and at Chelsea.
Last night Grant told Sportsmail he was delighted to be back involved in 'the best league in the world'. He said: 'It's great to be back and particularly at the club where I started. I am happy to be working with Paul again, who was running the academy when I was here last time.
'He knows how I operated with Harry (Redknapp) and I am here simply to help the club stay in the Premier League. We had a lot of success when I was here last time and we will all work together to try to turn things around after a difficult period for the club. I met the owners and they were very keen for me to do everything I can to help.'
Grant, who has a three-year contract, will start his job on Monday after an appointment that Hart discovered was being made only after yesterday's training session. Peter Storrie, the club's chief executive, said in a press conference yesterday that he knew of Grant's return only late on Monday.
This is a very happy day for me," Grant told the Israeli sports channel. "My goal was to stay in the British soccer league and that is what I've done. It's now time for more work and less talk."
Grant will return to the British soccer league after a two year break following the termination of his position as Chelsea soccer coach in 2008, after losing to Manchester United in the Euro Leagues.“Everyone at the club knows how I worked with Harry Redknapp when I was here before and that it will be the same this time round.
“Whatever the club needs me to do, I will do it. I will be there to help him and the club, to help them stay in the Premier League.”