Alan Curbishley is emerging as a top contender for the vacant Portsmouth job.

The Daily Star says Curbishley was touted for the job last February when Tony Adams was sacked but he was still involved in a legal ­wrangle with his former club West Ham.

That has now been SDHp resolved, leaving the way open for Curbishley to step back into the Premier League, just days after he revealed a return to top-flight management was his ultimate priority.