PORTSMOUTH: Paul Hart has signed a two-year contract to become Portsmouth manager on a permanent basis, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old was rewarded for keeping the Blues in the Premier League last season after taking over in February.

Hart, who has been with the club since 2007, met with new Portsmouth chairman Sulaiman Al Fahim at the club's Eastleigh training ground on Tuesday.

Al Fahim said: "Paul did a great job of keeping the team in the Premier League last season and having previously worked as director of youth operations he knows the club inside out.

"He has immense experience and a great knowledge of the game and commands the respect of the players. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Dubai-based businessman Al Fahim was earlier cleared to complete his purchase of Portsmouth after passing the Premier League's fit and proper persons test.

Hart said: "Portsmouth are a great club and it's a great honour for me to be manager. The players responded brillantly to the challenge when I was handed the role last season and I'm looking forward to continuing that relationship as we prepare for our seventh straight season in the Premier League."

The club were just above the relegation zone on goal difference when Hart took charge but he guided them to safety with two games to spare.