Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim have rarely seen eye-to-eye.
It is clear that Grant is a highly-respected figure. He came within one kick of winning the Champions League at Chelsea and clearly still has many friends in Portsmouth.
With more than two months until the transfer window reopens, and the Portsmouth squad-list featuring a who’s-who of footballing rejects, the club needs all the help it can get.
Having tipped him for a return several months ago, Grant’s return as Director of Football does not surprise me.
Having relegated Ben Haim to the reserves during his spell at Stamford Bridge, the future does not look bright for the Israeli defender.
Grant was apparently the reason that Ben Haim left Chelsea for Manchester City. He openly criticised his former national boss but did not last long at Eastlands either.
After a nightmare against Aston Villa, Ben Haim fared better in the team’s first victory of the season against Wolves. A respectable 7 out of 10 in most papers. But having settled on the south coast, it will be interesting to see if Avram will let bygones be bygones and lets his compatriot try to help keep the team afloat.