PORTSMOUTH ARE giving serious consideration to appointing the temporary management team of Paul Hart and Brian Kidd on a permanent basis. The pair started with a win over Manchester City last Saturday and would greatly improve their employment prospects if they secure victory at Stoke City tomorrow.

Hart has impressed since stepping up from his role in charge of the club’s youth set-up after Tony Adams was sacked.

Last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Fratton Park lifted the team four points above the relegation zone and has given the club breathing space in the search for a new manager.

It also alerted the owner, Sacha Gaydamak, and his executive chairman, Peter Storrie, to the qualities and experience of Hart and Kidd.

Hart has taken charge of almost 300 league games as the manager of Nottingham Forest, Barnsley and Chesterfield.

Kidd, meanwhile, has Premier League experience as a number one at Blackburn Rovers and has assisted Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Bryan Robson at Sheffield United, David O’Leary and Peter Reid at Leeds, and also worked with Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England squad.