Pompey set to unveil Perrin

Portsmouth are expected to announce the appointment of Alain Perrin as their new manager at a 12.30pm press conference this afternoon.

The former Marseille boss is due to “iron out details” with Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric this morning, with the press briefing to be held at the club’s Eastleigh training ground.

Former Luton and Tottenham manager David Pleat is set to assist Perrin in a consultancy role for the remaining seven Barclays Premiership games of the season.

Perrin, who made his name in management by leading unfashionable Troyes into the French First Division and also into the UEFA Cup, is expected to sign a contract running to the end of the 2006-07 season.

Mandaric told Sky Sports News: “Alain is not coming just for seven games, he’s coming to sign a contract as a manager for seven games plus two years.”

Pleat said his role was to protect Perrin from the “vultures” of the Premiership as the club try to halt the freefall which has put them in danger of relegation.

“Purely, if it all goes through, I’ll be helping him (Perrin) acclimatise, it’s as simple as that. The Premiership is full of vultures and things like that,” Pleat told BBC Radio Five.

“I’ll show him the way to the ground if he wants to go to games, I’ll give him an idea if he wants to know about how other teams play, and as far as possible just assist whenever he requires it in anything he may want to do, because he’s got a very short period to acclimatise and I will just help him.”

Velimir Zajec, who has been looking after first-team affairs since Harry Redknapp’s resignation, will revert to his role as executive director while Mandaric is believed to be keen for Joe Jordan to stay on the coaching staff at Fratton Park.