10.30: Hart takes Pompey training 12pm: Grant is back at Fratton; PORTSMOUTH CRISIS ALL CHANGE ON THE SOUTH COAST, BUT CHAOS REIGNS.

Byline: DARREN LEWIS 

IT is the latest twist in a tale descending deeper and deeper into farce.

Avram Grant, the man who steered Chelsea to within John Terry's missed penalty of winning the Champions League, is back in business at Portsmouth with a twoyear deal. But this time the south coast club cannot seem to make up their minds.

They have named him as director of football but insist Grant will work UNDER Paul Hart, which would surely make him more of an assistant than a director. It all does not add up. Especially when Hart himself was not even aware that new owner Ali Al Faraj had demanded a more experienced man at the club. Even chief executive Peter Storrie was in the dark until informed by his new boss on Tuesday night.

In fact, the first that Hart knew of Grant's impending arrival was when he was told after training yesterday. Hart immediately asked Storrie, who broke the news, what it meant in terms of his own position. And although the former Barnsley and Forest boss was assured that he remains the man in charge it would appear that neither he, nor anyone else hearing the news yesterday, is convinced.

In fact, it looks like a recipe for disaster in the Fratton Park dressing room.

If you were a player there who would you listen to? The man who took seven games - seven straight defeats - before getting his first win this season or the man who came within inches of winning the Carling Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League, masterminding wins over the biggest clubs in the country in the process?

That all may sound harsh, but that is the position in which Al Faraj has put Hart and the players, with superagent Pini Zahavi pushing the claims of fellow Israeli Grant behind the scenes.

Portsmouth's next opponents are Spurs on October 17. Despite their claims you have to wonder who will be picking the team for that match.

As you would expect, Pompey paint a very different picture of the Al Faraj-inspired changes. So make up your own minds from what Storrie said yesterday. He explained: "It's quite normal when new owners come in they want their own advisors and own people. I went down and spoke to Paul this morning about it. He fully understood the situation. He's had a discussion with Avram and they are meeting today as well.

"It is almost identical to the brief Avram had here before. He will advise and help Paul so effectively we will have two senior people at the helm, and that will only be good for the club. Directors of football fall into two categories. One type looks after all the transfer business, the other assists on the technical side - and Avram will be working on the technical side.

"Paul will still be the team manager and have the final say on team selection."

"I knew that the first question Paul would ask me would be: 'Is my job safe?' And the new owners insist they are delighted with the job he has done. They want continuity in terms of what is going on at the club. People can construe this appointment how they want to.

"Avram will be involved in the coaching. When he was here before with Harry Redknapp he did quite a bit of one to ones with players."

In fact, he was left in no uncertain terms by then boss Redknapp to stay away from the playing side of things. The 54-year-old Israeli was subsequently handed a way out by Chelsea. Jose Mourinho, too, gave him short shrift when he turned up at the Bridge, only for Grant to jump into the Special One's shoes when he was sacked two years ago.

Now, make no mistake, Grant is back at Pompey to get involved and Hart does not have the profile or the track record to tell him where to go.

And who is going to select the players to buy in January? Storrie said: "That will be done by Paul, Avram, myself and (new chief scout) Ray Clarke."

So there you have it. Management by committee. The Fratton Park circus remains in full swing.

Mirror Football

Read Martin Lipton on why Avram Grant's return is a good thing for the game at mirrorfootball.co.uk /opinion/blogs/ laptop-martin-lipton

William HILL

Paul Hart to be Portsmouth manager on the last day of the season: 8-13 no; 6-5 yes

Freephone: 0800 444040

CAPTION(S):

TESTING CHIMES The pressure was on Paul Hart as Avram Grant (left) arrived