Pompey begin new manager search

Portsmouth have begun the search for a new manager following the sacking of Tony Adams - but an appointment is unlikely to be made before Saturday.

Several names are thought to be in the running, including Sven Goran Eriksson, Avram Grant and Alan Curbishley.

Other people in the frame include Terry Venables, Slaven Bilic, Roy Keane, Glenn Hoddle and Graeme Souness.

Paul Hart has been placed in charge of first-team affairs at Pompey, who host Manchester City on Saturday.

Adams, 42, left the club after winning just two of 16 Premier League games since taking over on 28 October.

The club are only one point above the relegation zone and were dumped out of the FA Cup last month, losing to Championship side Swansea City.

With the club facing an uncertain future on and off the pitch, securing a new manager may be harder than Portsmouth think.


ODDS FOR NEXT POMPEY MANAGER
Avram Grant
Avram Grant - 6/4
Sven Goran Eriksson - 9/4
Alan Curbishley - 11/4
Slaven Bilic - 5/1
Terry Venables - 16/1
Odds supplied by William Hill and correct on 10 February
The south-coast club is currently up for sale, which means plans for a new stadium and training complex have been put on hold.

They were also forced to sell key players in January, losing striker Jermain Defoe and midfielder Lassana Diarra.

Of the leading candidates for the post, Grant has close links with owner Alexandre Gaydamak, having previously served at the club as a director of football.

He is currently out of job after leaving Chelsea at the end of last season following the defeat to Manchester United in the final of the Champions League.

Eriksson, the former England coach, is currently coach of Mexico's national team but is facing an uncertain future if they fail to beat USA in a vital World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.