Avram Grant says farewell Pompey. West Ham next?

As expected, Avram Grant has resigned as manager of Portsmouth - and is thought to be heading for West Ham to replace the outgoing Gianfranco Zola, sacked 10 days ago.

In an open letter to Pompey supporters yesterday, Grant wrote: "This was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to take in my football career."

He said that despite a "difficult and complex year" at Portsmouth, which is putting it mildly, it had been an uplifting experience. "I have been inundated with letters and emails from fans," he wrote. "Many have brought tears to my eyes - and, take it from me, it takes a lot to do that."

There is no doubt Grant enjoyed a genuinely strong attachment to the club and its fans, steering Pompey, against all odds, to the FA Cup Final. The fact that they lost 1-0 to Chelsea was neither here not there: that they made it to Wembley at all was unbelievable given their recent run of ill-fortune.

The 55-year-old Israeli has been associated with Portsmouth ever since he came to England in 2006 to be the club's technical director.

The following year he moved to Chelsea as director of football, soon taking over as manager after Roman Abramovich's fallout with Jose Mourinho. Despite taking Chelsea to the Champions League final, Grant was dumped by the Russian after one season.

He returned to Portsmouth in October 2009 as director of football and, in a replay of what happened at Chelsea, he quickly he took the manager's role from Paul Hart. The club were bottom of the Premier League having won only seven points from 13 games.

Under Grant, Portsmouth began to find some form. They won 10, lost 16 and drew seven of the 33 matches played with Grant as manager. He even managed to ride the storm when a tabloid caught him visiting a Thai massage parlour.

But the club's financial troubles were another matter. In February, Portsmouth went into administration and had nine points deducted as punishment. It meant they were doomed to finish bottom and be relegated.

Grant's name is one of several mentioned for the West Ham job. They include Manchester City's former manager Mark Hughes and the Italian striker Paolo Di Canio, worshipped by West Ham fans when he played for the club from 1999 to 2003.

Steve Claridge, the BBC sports pundit who played for Portsmouth a decade ago, expects Grant to be appointed. "Not many managers walk out of a job without having another one readily available to them," said Claridge. "If my money was going anywhere it would be on him going to West Ham." ·