Grant ready for Portsmouth survival fight

Avram Grant took the reins at Portsmouth on Friday and admitted he faces a huge battle in trying to keep the club, currently propping up the Premier League, among the top flight.

“It’s a big challenge,” Grant told his first press conference since being named as the successor to Paul Hart.

“I think we deserve to stay in the Premier League and that’s my main concern.”

Technically, the former Chelsea boss will continue to operate in his current role as director of football, pending a change in his UK work permit.

“He’s not the manager yet – but will become it, which we hope will be next week,” said Chief Executive Peter Storrie.

Whatever his title, Grant will be in the Fratton Park dugout for Saturday’s visit of champions Manchester United and he believes Portsmouth’s current squad has sufficient quality to climb up the table under his guidance.

“I need to do a good job because the team are not in a good position,” he said.

“I think the spirit of the team and the atmosphere are good, they are trying to play good football.

“There have been good results in the last month compared to before … but what’s happened has happened and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Grant lost his job at Chelsea after they lost the 2008 Champions League final to Manchester United on a penalty shoot-out, but he defended his record at Stamford Bridge, where he took over in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s abrupt departure in September 2007.

“I’ve have had many situations in my life,” Grant said. “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.”

Storrie said Grant had been the only candidate given serious consideration for the job once the decision had been taken to sack Hart.

“You look at the people who are currently out of work and available and in our opinion Avram was head of that list by a million miles,” he said.

“We looked at all the names on the list and once it had Avram on it, he’s managed a national team, he’s managed Chelsea, no-one else came close.”

Storrie revealed that club owner Ali Al Faraj has been taking part in board meetings regarding both the sacking of Hart and Grant’s appointment.

“Paul has done a fantastic job for this club through very difficult circumstances,” Storrie added. “We feel very sorry, he’s been unlucky in certain ways, we’ve lost so many games by the odd goal.

“Paul leaves here with great dignity and respect.”

Portsmouth are currently barred from signing any new players because of concerns raised over payments to other clubs for past deals.

Storrie said he expected that ban to be lifted in time for the January transfer window and for Al Faraj to make money available.

Grant said: “I think the squad is good enough to take us from the bottom, but we need some players who can improve us and also the (African Nations Cup) is coming so some players will not be around for a month and we need to think about that.”