Recently appointed Portsmouth boss Avram Grant has admitted that the Premier League basement boys need a miracle in order to stay up, and even suggested that he isn't the man to save them!

Grant was sworn in to the Fratton Park hot-seat last week to replace the sacked Paul Hart, with Pompey well-established as the top-flight's bottom side and firm favourites for relegation this season.

The Israeli duly lost his first game in charge 4-1 to Manchester United, and has now sensationally revealed that he thinks it will take a miracle for his side to survive a drop, and that he isn't used to life at the bottom!

"We have more than 20 games until the end of the season, so even though the situation is like this, I think we can do it," the former Chelsea manager told The Daily Telegraph.

"Miracles happen sometimes, no? I don't have enough experience at the bottom of the leagues - I am guilty.

"It was not the dream of my life to take over a team at the bottom. I've spent more than 90 per cent of my life at the top."

ExtraFootie thinks we know what he is getting at - perhaps his less-than-perfect grasp of English is to blame for the 54-year-old's rather gloomy assessment of the task in hand at the South Coast club.

Meanwhile, Grant also revealed that he was confident that he would be able to bring in new players come January, pending on whether Portsmouth have their transfer embargo lifted by the Premier League and whether there is money available.

"In a few days we will discuss it [the transfer situation]. I met him [Pompey owner Ali Al-Faraj] one time or two I think. But I conduct discussions with Peter Storrie [the chief executive].

"I will know in the next couple of days what we can do in January. I don't have an assistant but I'm very happy with the staff."