Two games, two decent performances…and two defeats. The start of Avram Grant’s Portsmouth managerial reign has had a horribly familiar ring to it.   But the first defeat came against Manchester United. And the second was a less-than-damaging Carling Cup quarter-final loss to Aston Villa.   Off the field, talks are continuing over lifting the club’s transfer embargo before the January Transfer Window, four weeks away.

Meanwhile, non-executive chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim has unhelpfully provided the press with his take on club matters.

Paul Hart’s dismissal as manager came after defeats at Blackburn and Stoke which prompted chief executive Peter Storrie to claim: “The board feel that the team should have accrued more points to date.”

Hart’s expressed “surprise” at “the speed of recent events” which led to his departure and his “deep regret that my time with Portsmouth Football Club has now come to an end.” He was offered a return to his role as youth development officer but declined.

Grant, meanwhile, will continue to run the team under the guise of Director of Football until his work permit can be amended to take account of his change of responsibilities.

Storrie remains confident that Grant will be able to strengthen his squad in next month’s transfer window.

The embargo was placed on Portsmouth in October because of non-payment of transfer and agents’ fees.

Chelsea and Rennes have yet to confirm to the EPL that they have received monies for Glen Johnson (since moved on to Liverpool) and John Utaka respectively.

And the EPL have already made it clear that the clubs will be paid from Portsmouth’s £12m share of January broadcast distributions if necessary.

However, Storrie said last week: “(The embargo) should certainly be lifted in time for the window opening and Avram will look at where he thinks we need to strengthen the side.”

Grant himself is anxious to meet owner Ali Al-Faraj, who continues to prove elusive, with a widely-promised appearance at the Manchester United match failing to materialise. Grant himself added to the mystique saying: “I met him one time or two…I think.”

Less elusive, sadly, is previous owner Al-Fahim who expressed his “disappointment” that he was not consulted over Hart’s sacking, an indication of his current lack of significance at Fratton Park these days.

In a fit of pique over this, Fahim has cast doubt over Portsmouth’s ability to lift the transfer embargo, telling the Guardian that there are considerable other outstanding bills, including VAT and money owed to previous, previous owner Sacha Gaydamak.

He said: “I would like to apologise for saying publicly last month that I was confident the embargo would be lifted…it seems there is still an ongoing issue.”

The club didn’t think his remarks worthy of comment, and nothing has changed with regard to these monies in the past month.

Portsmouth host Burnley this weekend, a match they will expect to win given that Burnley have only picked up one away point this season, and that at Manchester City, who are drawing with everyone.

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