After a dreadful first three months to the Premier League season – in which they have won just two games – the club finds themselves rock bottom of the table and staring at the possibility of relegation to the Championship.

Next up they face champions Manchester United at Fratton Park on Saturday.

According to the club's fans, the team's poor start to the season meant the manager had to go.

Nigel Tressider, chairman of the official Portsmouth FC supporters club, told The News he agreed with the club's decision to sack Hart.

'It was always going to happen, we were just waiting to hear it,' he said.

'Now it's time for the club to move forward. We have got a tough month ahead in terms of fixtures so the new manager needs to be in place as soon as possible.

'Avram Grant would do a good job. They should have got rid of him (Hart) earlier but it's good they have done it before January so the new guy will have the chance to get his own players in.'

Barry Dewing, chairman of Pompey Independent Supporters Association, said he thinks it's time the club become more open with the fans.

He said: 'Nobody knows what's really happening at the football club. Who will actually be deciding who the new manager is?

'There's lots of questions supporters have that need to be answered by the club.

'Even by Pompey's standards, today has been quite a day.'