Strap Yourselves In: Portsmouth Face a Bumpy Ride After Sacking Paul Hart

Paul Hart must be wondering why he went through the hassle of the past three months.

Since the Premier League season began he has been forced to cope with a series of baffling problems behind the scenes - in particular a power struggle as Sulaiman Al-Fahim and Ali Al-Faraj battled to take ownership of the club - and then a bizarre situation when players wages went unpaid as the club were on the verge of filing for administration.

Throw into the equation the transfer ban imposed on the club and it is no surprise that they sit bottom of the Premier League.

Yet, just as it seemed Hart had restored some passion, direction and belief in the current crop of players down on the south coast - he was sacked. The decision is ridiculous. Not because Hart had become untouchable, after all he had 13 games in charge and lost the opening seven.

But, if he was to be dismissed, it should have been after that sequence of appalling results, not three days before a the toughest fixture of the season against champions Manchester United.

Hart had come through some dark times, dealing with huge media pressure and a barrage of tough questioning at a time when employees higher up the ladder at Portsmouth should have been under closer scrutiny.

Yet, as ever, the manager is the guy with his head on the block - and ultimately Hart paid the price for failing to keep pace in the win-at-all-costs top flight of English football.

The next episode in the soap opera down at Pompey is now a must-see, as chief executive Peter Storrie faces the most important decision of his career.

It is expected that director of football Avram Grant will switch from his current role to take charge of team affairs and, if that is the case Pompey fans, should cross their fingers and pray for a miracle because the players are reeling from the loss of a man they had enjoyed fighting for.

Grant would have to build a relationship from scratch and learn quickly just what makes this team tick. Although it shouldn't take him too long to work out that Jamie O'Hara is the man pulling all the strings in the current side.

Former Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has also been mentioned as a candidate, but that choice would seem even more bizarre, given the fact he lacks Premier League managerial experience (even if his dad is the best in the business!).

Hart will now step out of the limelight and no doubt take time to reflect on a crazy time in charge of Portsmouth Football Club. In the meantime, football followers should sit back and watch with and Portsmouth fans should strap themselves in.

It could be a bumpy ride for the next six months.