Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has left the Premier League strugglers with immediate effect, reports BBC Sport. The club said in a statement that the decision "has been made reluctantly and is based on results that leave the club at the bottom of the Premier League".

Hart was offered an alternative role as technical director responsible for players aged 18-21, but declined it.

Coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan will take charge of the first team until Hart's replacement is named.

Chief executive Peter Storrie said: "Paul has worked under very difficult circumstances with the financial restrictions the club has faced since he took over.

"However, the board feels that the team should have accrued more points to date and that we need a new man in charge to ensure Premier League survival.

"The board would like to thank Paul for his work not only in keeping the club in the Premier League last season but also for his time in charge of youth development.

"Paul is a man of great dignity and we hoped he would stay and help us develop younger players on the fringes of the first team.

"We are genuinely sad to see him leave. Everyone at the club wishes him well for the future."