Grant returns to Portsmouth

Portsmouth on Wednesday announced the return of Avram Grant to his former job as the club's director of football.

The 54-year-old Israeli returns to Fratton Park having occupied the same role from 2006 to 2007 before succeeding Jose Mourinho as manager of Chelsea.

It is the first major change since Saudi Arabian businessman Ali Al Faraj completed his 90 percent buy-out of the club from Sulaiman Al Fahim on Monday.

Grant, who took Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final, will work alongside manager Paul Hart as the club aim to climb off the bottom of the Premier League with just one win from eight games so far.

Grant has also worked as coach of the Israel national team.

He was one penalty kick away from leading Chelsea to Champions League glory as the Blues lost to Manchester United in Moscow and he was replaced soon afterwards by Luiz Felipe Scolari.


It is expected that Grant will work with Hart on player recruitment at the south coast club, who were bought by Saudi property tycoon Al Faraj this week after a brief, tumultuous period under the stewardship of Al Fahim.

Hart's team had made the worst start to an English top-flight season for 79 years after losing their opening seven matches, but they ended that run with a 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton on Saturday.