22 Jul 2009Al Fahim moves step closer to completing Portsmouth takeover

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

The English Premier League has approved Sulaiman Al Fahim's takeover of Portsmouth, which has seen him installed as the club's chairman.

Al Fahim is the sole owner of Al Fahim Asia Associates, the company that is the official owner of the south coast club, and has successfully passed the league's fit and proper person test.

Meanwhile, as the Arabian billionaire moves a step closer to completing his acquisition, reported to be for £60 million, Paul Hart has been appointed the club's manager after penning a two-year deal.

Hart took over in a caretaker role midway through last season with Portsmouth deep in relegation trouble, but managed to steer the club to safety by gaining 17 points in 14 games.

Al Fahim said of the new manager: "Paul did a great job keeping the team in the Premier League and having previously worked as the director of youth operations he knows the club inside out.

"He has immense experience and great knowledge of the game and commands the respect of the players. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Among the other candidates to have been linked with the Portsmouth job were Roberto Mancini, former Chelsea manager Avram Grant and Sven Goran Eriksson.

Written by Paul Roberts

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