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Pompey keen to hang on to Grant

Avram Grant has been given the thumbs up by Portsmouth © Getty Images

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Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou wants manager Avram Grant to remain at the club beyond the end of the current season.

It was expected that Grant would leave Fratton Park in the summer as part of the beleaguered Premier League club's cost cutting measures as they look to exit administration.

But now Andronikou claims that he wants the Israeli coach to lead the club in the Championship as they look to bounce back into the top flight at the first attempt.

Andronikou told the Observer: "Hopefully, Avram will commit to the club to continue as manager. He has done a wonderful job this season, and if he does stay on it would be great for stability. That's what is needed now - stability."

It is unclear whether Grant would be prepared to manage in the Championship, and there is no doubt that his reputation had been enhanced during a torrid spell on the south coast. It could be that another Premier League club will move for him in the close season. Hull made an approach after "sacking" Phil Brown earlier this month but it was rebuffed.

Andronikou has again explained that most of the playing staff will be moved on and it is likely a team of free transfers will replace them.

One player who will not play for the club again is Aruna Dindane, with reports suggesting that Pompey will have to pay his parent club, Lens, £4 million if he makes another appearance.

Portsmouth have permission to sell players outside of the transfer window but at present there has been no movement.

Meanwhile, Andronikou continues to look for ways to make savings.

"I've got to adjust the overheads from a Premier League club to a Championship club," he added. "The biggest overheads are player wages. I have to reduce those. The projected turnover for this club next year is £22-25 million. An accepted ratio of wages is 50-60% of turnover. At moment the wage bill is £45 million, so that's my biggest task."

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