History of Portsmouth F.C. place, thanks to academy director Paul Hart stepping in as caretaker boss, seven points clear of the relegated clubs, despite the disruption brought by the departure of Harry Redknapp and the subsequent sacking of his successor, former assistant manager Tony Adams. At the start of the 2008–09 season rumours began to fly around that Portsmouth were facing crippling debts due to their recent heavy spending and owner Alexandre Gaydamak was looking to sell the club. After Redknapp's departure many key players began to depart with Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe leaving in January. In May 2009, Sulaiman Al-Fahim had a
Tony Hart (politician) Tony Hart (politician) Tony Hart CBE (11 September 1923 – 13 June 2009) was a British businessman and Conservative leader of Kent County Council between 1984 and 1992. During his leadership of Kent County Council, Hart negotiated and oversaw the development of the Channel Tunnel, the High Speed Rail Link and the Dartford Bridge. Anthony Harry Hart was born on 11 September 1923 in Portsmouth. He spent much of his early childhood in Africa and was educated as a boarder at Bedford Modern School. During World War II he served with the Parachute Regiment in India and Burma before leaving