Football Corner

Portsmouth have today sacked French man Alain Perrin after just eight months in the job. Coach Joe Jordan will take temporary charge of the club, who meet champions Chelsea on Saturday. Chairman Milan Mandaric said: "This has not been an easy decision. Alain is a talented coach and a good man who has worked extremely hard since arriving. "However, the view taken is that recent performances and the general morale amongst the squad needed improvement. We are all extremely grateful to him." Perrin took charge in April and kept the club in the Premiership but they have posted only two wins this season and lie one place above the relegation zone. Following a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, Mandaric was thought to be on the verge of dispensing with Perrin's services but then appeared to have a change of heart.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock and ex-Hearts manager George Burley are in the frame to succeed the Frenchman. In a statement, Mandaric, who has overseen the coming and going of eight managers since he took over in 1999, hinted that he would not look abroad again. "I really believe a knowledge of British football is an underestimated asset in a manager and the demand of Premier League football are intense," he said. "We have some wonderfully talented players and the most passionate supporters in the country. "I will now turn my attention to attracting a successful manager to Fratton Park. "I am confident we will find the right man for the job to help Pompey get the season back on track." Perrin's departure comes exactly a year to the day since Harry Redknapp resigned as manager, on 24 November 2004.

To be perfectly honest I am not very surprised at this decision by Manderic because Perrin has failed miserably at his job at Portsmouth. I thought that this would have happened along long time ago. I quite fancy Sir Bobby Robson to become next full time manager at the club because I think Portsmouth is the kind of job he needs to get back into football.