Pompey Bring In Perrin

Alain Perrin will become the latest Premiership managerial import when he is unveiled as Portsmouth’s new manager at lunchtime today. An unfamiliar name to most English supporters, Alain’s route to the top has not been via the familiar course. Alain Perrin will become the latest Premiership managerial import when he is unveiled as Portsmouth’s new manager at lunchtime today. An unfamiliar name to most English supporters, Alain’s route to the top has not been via the familiar course.

The 48 year-old Frenchman started his working life as a PE teacher. Although he did not play professionally, he became an expert in sports science methods.

In 1983, Alain became a junior coach at Nancy where he worked under Arsene Wenger. In 1988, he was named the head of the club’s academy and developed the talents of such as Mustapha Hadji and Tony Vairelles.

The move that was to change his career came in 1993 when he was appointed coach of semi-professional Third Division Troyes. He combined his first-team coaching duties with those as general manager.

They were promoted to Ligue 2 in 1996 before he led them into Ligue 1 in 1999 only 13 years after the club’s formation.

He confounded the critics by keeping Troyes in the French top flight despite a meague budget. After defeating Newcastle United in the UEFA Intertoto Cup Final, Alain’s Troyes side reached the UEFA Cup Second Round in 2001 where they lost narrowly to Leeds United.

On 7 May 2002, he was appointed Olympique Marseille’s coach and general manager in charge of sporting matters. He agreed a three-year deal to replace Bernard Tapie.

His appointment followed that of new chairman Christophe Bouchet as owner Robert-Louis Dreyfus made sweeping changes at the Vélodrome.

Marseille had finished ninth in Le Championnat; two places behind Troyes.

Christophe Bouchet commented: “In nine years Alain Perrin rebuilt Troyes from top to bottom, making them a great club. He was able to find answers to the many problems he faced there.”

With Didier Drogba being one of his notable signings, Alain took OM into the Champions League at his first attempt but, although lying sixth in the league, he was sacked in February 2004 and replaced by Jose Anigo who took the club to the UEFA Cup Final.

Ironically, his availability immediately attracted the attention of Southampton. With Saints’ boss Gordon Strachan having announced his intention to leave his St Mary’s post, chairman Rupert Lowe was reported to have travelled to France for talks.

If true, they did not reach a successful conclusion as Alain accepted the position of manager at Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates in July 2004. However, he was sacked in October after a poor run of results.

Yesterday, Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric revealed Alain - who has the reputation as a strict disciplinarian - as his “number one candidate” to be the club’s new manager. It is expected he will sign a contract to June 2007 and will be assisted in a consultancy capacity to the end of this season by former Tottenham Hotspur Director of Football David Pleat.

It is thought that Joe Jordan will remain as coach while Velimir Zajec will revert to his role as executive director role.

Portsmouth are just four points above the relegation places having lost eight of their last ten Premiership games.