THIS WEEK IN 1974: New manager '˜ready for the challenge'

Ian St John took a massive step into the dark when he joined Pompey. For he was taking over a club whose ground he had never even seen.

'˜But don't worry about that. I'm told it's tremendous and it will be my job to see what happens,' he said.

St John, the former Liverpool legend and Scottish international, was Pompey's new manager and there was £400,000 backing him.

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So John Deacon, Pompey's chairman, ended a two-day chase for St John's signature on a five-year contract.

Pompey's hunt for a man to succeed John Mortimore took just a week '“ but St John, who earned 21 Scottish caps and won Division I and FA cup medals with Liverpool was not first choice, as Bill Shankly from Liverpool, could not be persuaded.

St John was the manager for Pompey  for three years.Â