**Portsmouth manager Paul Hart has left the Premier League’s basement club with immediate effect.**The club said the decision to relieve him of his duties had been “made reluctantly based on results that leave Pompey at the bottom of the league”.
Hart, 56, was offered a role as technical director responsible for players aged 18-21, but declined it.
Coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan take temporary charge, with director of football Avram Grant tipped to be boss.
Chief executive Peter Storrie said: "Paul has worked under very difficult circumstances with the financial restrictions the club has faced since he took over.
606: DEBATE
“Paul Hart is not a bad manager, the players must take some of the blame”
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"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.”
Hart took charge following the sacking of Tony Adams in February 2009.