Zajec sets survival target

Velimir Zajec was today appointed manager of Portsmouth on a permanent basis and made survival in the Barclays Premiership the priority at Fratton Park.

The former Panathinaikos technical director had been acting as caretaker boss following the departure of Harry Redknapp.

However, after Gordon Strachan having turned down the opportunity to succeed Redknapp, chairman Milan Mandaric today announced the Croatian would continue in the hot-seat with Joe Jordan assisting him in a coaching role.

Zajec is only concerned about his role at the club in the immediate future rather than planning for years to come.

“I have already my job, it is not a new job for me, I was already here and had a contract,” he said on Sky Sports News.

“I am a soldier of the team, I accept every job they give me. We’ll see how long it will go.

“Because of the situation – we are in the middle of the championship – we can’t change too many things. I accepted this, it’s not a new job, we just continue like the last one and a half months.

“We have a good squad, good players, good character of players who have shown they can play with discipline. First of all we need to take the club and make sure we are not going out of the Premiership.

“That one step is very important for us.”

Chairman Milan Mandaric reiterated that Zajec had not initially been brought to the club with a view to becoming manager, and he revealed that the Croatian took a lot of convincing to take the role.

“Velimir and Joe (Jordan) took over during the commotions and demonstrated a tremendous partnership and togetherness. The players responded and we are very happy to go forward with the potential for this club,” said Mandaric.

“Velimir brings tremendous knowledge of football, he understands the players, he’s been there and managed, coached and played and we’re very lucky to have this kind of manager on board.

“I still believe in having a football director and a coach, but at this time I accept this situation with a manager role.

“As they say, ‘don’t fix where it works’.”

Mandaric added: “I knew Velimir before he took the job. It goes without saying I knew he could get the job done.

“There was never any doubt he can get the job done – I just tried to see if he could avoid that (being manager).

“This is the major reason why we are doing this – we need to stabilise. Everything we do is for the benefit of our supporters. This is a total demonstration that we need stability and peace.”

Zajec had arrived at the club to oversee other roles such as the club’s academy and Mandaric said: “Unfortunately those roles will have to suffer a little bit ... but they will not be ignored.”

Jordan claimed the co-operation of the players had helped the duo fill in following Redknapp’s exit.

He added: “There is extra responsibility but Velimir and I have had to get around a lot of extra things through this period – but the players have understood.”