Hart leaves Portsmouth

Former boss turns down role of technical director

Last updated: 24th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hart leaves Portsmouth

Hart: Pays the price

Paul is a man of great dignity and we hoped he would stay and help us develop younger players on the fringes of the first team.

Peter Storrie
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Portsmouth have confirmed that manager Paul Hart has left Fratton Park with immediate effect.

The Pompey boss had faced persistent speculation regarding his future all season and Sunday's defeat at Stoke was the final straw as his time with the club is over after he turned down the chance to move to a role as technical director.

Portsmouth have won only two league games this season, leaving the South Coast club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

That run of form only increased pressure on Hart, who has been forced to wrestle with boardroom changes, uncertainty over the ownership of the club and financial difficulties, and he has paid the price.

A statement on the club's official website said: "Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that Paul Hart has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager.

"The decision has been made reluctantly by the board and is based on results that leave the club at the bottom of the Premier League.

"Paul was offered the role of technical director, developing players from the ages of 18-21, but declined the position.

Replacement

"The club plans to announce a replacement very quickly and until that time the players will be led by first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan."

Chief executive Peter Storrie said: "Paul has worked under very difficult circumstances with the financial restrictions the club has faced since he took over.

"However, the board feels that the team should have accrued more points to date and that we need a new man in charge to ensure Premier League survival.

"The board would like to thank Paul for his work not only in keeping the club in the Premier League last season but also for his time in charge of youth development.

"Paul is a man of great dignity and we hoped he would stay and help us develop younger players on the fringes of the first team. We are genuinely sad to see him leave. Everyone at the club wishes him well for the future."

Sky Sports News understands that Avram Grant is not in contention to succeed Hart and will remain in his role as director of football.

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Comments (72)

Nick Gray (Sunderland fan) says...

Paul Hart, like lots of other managers this season gave it his best shot, but results never went his way and he has become another victim of this ruthless game. I wonder how many other managers will follow the same route in the next few weeks, never mind months. Players get managers sacked, because they don¿t give 100% and then they offer their sympathy when it¿s too late in the day.

Posted 18:47 25th November 2009

Mac Mcquinn (pompey fan) says...

Paul Hart had a meagre team to cope with. He did his best, however that can't be said for the players. At least the Wigan players repay their fans when they lose. Do Pompey? Nope. Pompey are now just paying lip service to the PL. If we get 20 points this season I'll be surprised. Sack the board at the earliest opportunity, but don't blame the Manager

Posted 23:13 24th November 2009

Nigel Dawes (Derby County fan) says...

Having watched all Paul Hart's TV post-match interviews I really believe that HE believed Pompey would escape had he remained in the job. They play football of a far superior quality than Wolves, Wigan or Bolton and I am certain they will still survive. The fans deserve far better from their gutless bunch of directors who should all hang their heads in shame. Good luck Mr Hart. Roy Enticott, I feel for you!

Posted 23:09 24th November 2009

Geoff Ponchaud (Portsmouth fan) says...

Well done Paul. You took on a job in very difficult circumstances and very little support. The team played good football but didn.t have any luck at all.You should be proud of what you achieved with what you had.

Posted 23:08 24th November 2009

Nick Evans (Portsmouth fan) says...

I think Pompey should have sacked PH months ago he was technically inept he would play the oddest line ups ...and Would not play the greek internationals or even give them a chance...he played defeatest football most of the season only recently has he changed his tactics to try and score goals...It was a stupid decision to put him as coach to begin with...he needs to be a coach of a village green team.

Posted 22:41 24th November 2009

True Blue (Portsmouth fan) says...

It had to happen, we just haven't won enough games, the team play pretty good foootball until it comes to sticking it in the net. It's a shame the manager has to carry the can, but that's modern football. As for the future ? it's still probably going to be in the championship, and who'd want to manage a second tier, skint football club ? Better start setting the Sat Nav for Norwich.

Posted 21:02 24th November 2009

Chris Tolland (Celtic fan) says...

A stick on for relegation at the start of the season so its hard to see what sacking the manager is going to change, its new players thats needed. madness

Posted 20:54 24th November 2009

Jason Petty (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

Who do portsmouth think they are. They over achieved for a season or 2 under harry. The bottom line is they are a small club geting less than 20000 fans. They have sold diarra, crouth . defoe and other quality players. They had a good run. I cant believe they sacked hart. It cant be easy being a manager when all your best players are being sold. They need a reality check, which they will get next season in the championship.

Posted 20:53 24th November 2009

Barry C (Portsmouth fan) says...

I have sympathy for Paul Hart, we haven't played that badly in some games and sunday was indicative of our season : played okay but with no cutting edge up front. Hart's task was near impossible in the summer : rebuild a PL squad with minimal funds, little wonder that we prop up the league. Hart did his best and we haven't been hammered in any games this season like Wigan and Bolton have been. Whoever takes the job has a massive task to save us from relegation.

Posted 20:51 24th November 2009

Tim Daniels (Derby County fan) says...

That would be the same manager that kept you up and won you the FA cup.He may have left you but it was for a bigger club.You would have done the same.Im no fan of Redknapp but he gave you a trophy.Without him you would be in the championship,which is where you soon will be now youve got rid of Hart

Posted 20:30 24th November 2009

Conor Tester (Portsmouth fan) says...

How could pompey sack Paul Hart? The man has done the job the best he could have done and pompey supporters should be sticking up for him not digging into him. Nobody else could have done a better job than what Paul Hart did considering the situation the club was in. Paul is a good honest man and i feel sorry for him, they should have stuck with him

Posted 20:24 24th November 2009

Luke Penman (Luton Town fan) says...

Another sacking in the fickle world of­ football. Managers and coaches just don't get­ enough support from the board of directors. Considering­ half the first team players moved to spurs, It's­ going to take time for the team to rebuild and develop­ again. I don't think the sacking is going to help­ portsmouth if anything it's going to unsettle the­ team. Just remember Newcastle utd, how many managers­ did they go through last season before they were­ demoted? Good luck to Paul Heart hope he has better­ success following this disappointment. Good luck to­ Avram aka Jabba the hut!

Posted 20:17 24th November 2009

Dan Read says...

Well done Pompey. You sold all the decent players in the summer. The two that stayed were sold when the season was underway (Distin and Kranjcar) for peanuts and you've asked the manager to survive with rejects and Coke Championship players and then saked him without a replacement. It's not the work or geniuses, is it? The board should go, not the manager!

Posted 20:17 24th November 2009

Billy B (Peterhead fan) says...

No sympathy what so ever for Mr Hart, its a blokes game. He isnt good enough for the premiership and neither is Pompey. Move on. They will do well next year in the championship.

Posted 20:10 24th November 2009

Dc 1 (Portsmouth fan) says...

Paul Hart has my respect for leading Pompey when no one else would. The mess that is Pompey behind the scenes needs sorting. I like Peter Stories, even though he is as slippery as an eel in my book, but the timing of Paul Hart's sacking stinks. yeah, the result havnen't been coming, but what do you expect with what's happened to us in past 12 months? Europe? Come on...get real! Watching three Spurs players who used to be at Pompey last season score 7 goals for fun against Wigan on Saturday sums up the changed fortunes for both clubs. Still it could be worse, we could be Southampton. And let's not forget what an incredible time we've had over the past 10 years. We were used to being bottom of the Championship, so let's get behind whoever takes the job - please, though, not any mugs like Alan Curbishley or, even worse, David O'Dreary. Let's aim high...that's if anyone's interested in the rotting corpse job on offer at Fratton Park. BTW, everyone's going on about signing players in january - as things stand we can't do that, so what was the point of sacking the man who our team has been playing for. Still, we could have Megson in charge...haha. Paul Hart, you're a top man and thanks for doing the job you did when noone else would. Play Up Pompey.

Posted 20:08 24th November 2009

Paul Deluchi (Portsmouth fan) says...

Unfortunately Paul Hart had to go the days of sticking next to nice guys win or lose have gone all that matters is premiership status well to a syndicate of arabs sitting on the club waiting to cash in on the land lets not forget peter storrie hovering in the back sniffing out his cut of the lollie genuine fan my arse

Posted 20:08 24th November 2009

J Bodsy (forest fan) says...

Same thing happened to Paul Hart when he managed us way back in 2002 in the championship, he got us to the playoffs in 2002 and after 6 games in 03 season our board sacked him whilst playing some good football. I do believe he would've kept pompey up, the three to go down for me is wolves, wigan & Bolton. Good luck pompey, brace yourselves for one hell of a fight. i'm hoping all premiership teams get past 11 points. (check the records to see who holds that wooden spoon!!) Hope to play you next season - IN THE PREMIERSHIP!!!! Paul Hart - come home and manage our young guns again!! cheers Bodsy

Posted 19:55 24th November 2009

Jayson Stewart (Portsmouth fan) says...

I feel for Paul he had a hard job with all the goings on at Pompey but we need someone who can lift us out the bottom 3 and help us climb up the table . Good luck Mr Hart

Posted 19:54 24th November 2009

Dan Hibbert (Manchester United fan) says...

Alan Curbs announces he wants to come back to management in the premier league. could he be the next pompy manager? i think he would do well.

Posted 19:50 24th November 2009

Adam Rider (Portsmouth fan) says...

Paul Hart did fantastic job last year, but something had to give!! Although we are playing well, the league does not lie and we need sorting out!! Bring in Curbs!!!!!!

Posted 19:48 24th November 2009

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