Pompey want Strachan to do a Redknapp

Portsmouth could be set to play Southampton at their own game by appointing former Saints boss Gordon Strachan as their new manager.

Harry Redknapp this week made the opposite switch when taking charge at St Mary’s Stadium just over a fortnight after leaving Fratton Park.

That moved caused controversy on the south coast but Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric admits he would like to stoke up the fire even further by snapping up Strachan.

“We would like to appoint a British manager and Gordon is on top of that list as far as I am concerned,” Mandaric told the Daily Express.

“I definitely want to talk to him and find out his situation and whether he would be prepared to join us.

“I met Gordon when we played our ’neighbours’, and he was the manager there at the time. I have great respect for him as a man and as a manager. We know what we want to do and we are very serious about trying to persuade him to come to Fratton Park.”