Darren Ferguson is emerging as favourite for the Portsmouth job following the dismissal of Paul Hart yesterday.

Some bookmakers offering short odds tonight on the appointment of the out-of-work former Peterborough manager. Ferguson was sacked by the Coca-Cola Championship club earlier this month but began the season with a burgeoning reputation.

That could offer the tantalising prospect of Ferguson taking on his father Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United at the weekend.

Coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan have been put in temporary charge of the Portsmouth first team but that is a short-term measure.