Portsmouth have sacked manager Paul Hart following their poor start to the Barclays Premier League season.

The former Nottingham Forest and Barnsley boss has left Fratton Park with Portsmouth at the foot of the table, after taking just seven points from 13 matches.

They were beaten 1-0 at Stoke on Sunday and are four points adrift of safety, ahead of this weekend's clash with Manchester United.

Portsmouth have a ready-made replacement for Hart at the club after bringing in former Chelsea manager Avram Grant as director of football last month.

He will be the firm favourite for the job.

The club have not yet named Hart's successor however, and coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan have taken temporary charge of the first team.

Portsmouth said in a statement that Hart was "relieved of his duties", and stressed the decision was taken "reluctantly" and on the basis of recent results.

The club said Hart turned down the role of technical director, with responsibility for players aged 18 to 21.

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said on www.pompeyfc.co.uk: "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."

Hart was Portsmouth's director of youth operations until being handed the chance to take over from former manager Tony Adams in February this year, initially as caretaker boss.

After the team avoided relegation, Hart was named as Portsmouth's full-time manager in July, however they began this season with seven straight league defeats.

Portsmouth have since beaten Wolves and Wigan but have been unable to break away from the bottom of the league.

They have three consecutive home matches ahead, with United's visit on Saturday followed by a Carling Cup clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday and a league tussle with Burnley four days later.

Paul Hart Factfile

1953: Born on May 4 in Golborne, Lancashire, the son of former Manchester City forward and manager Johnny Hart.

1970: Begins his playing career with Stockport.

1973: Joins Blackpool and goes on to be ever present in their 1976-77 promotion season, scoring six goals.

1978: Joins Leeds United for £300,000 and plays 191 games in five years with the club.

1983: Moves to Nottingham Forest.

1984: Has a goal controversially ruled out in the UEFA Cup semi-final against Anderlecht. The Belgian club later admitted bribing the referee.

1985: Joins Sheffield Wednesday.

1986: Moves to Birmingham City, but breaks his leg in his only appearance for the Blues.

1987: Transferred to Notts County, where he completes his playing career.

1988: Begins his managerial career with Chesterfield, guiding the Spireites to the 1989-90 Division Four play-offs.

1991: Sacked by Chesterfield. Subsequently moves into youth coaching roles with first Forest and then Leeds.

1993: Guides Leeds to FA Youth Cup success with a 4-1 aggregate win in the final against Manchester united.

1997: Repeats the feat as the Whites' youngsters see off Crystal Palace 3-1 over the two legs.

1999: Returns to Forest as academy manager and leads them to the 1999-2000 Under-19 title.

2001: Becomes first-team manager after David Platt's departure to become England Under-21 boss.

2003: Forest reach the First Division play-off semi-finals, losing 5-4 to Sheffield United on aggregate after extra-time.

2004: February 7 - Sacked as Forest boss following a run of two wins in 22 games.

March 4 - Appointed as Barnsley manager.

2005: March 4 - Sacked by Barnsley.

2006: May - Takes over as Rushden & Diamonds boss.

October - Departs his post after an eight-match winless run.

2007: March 19 - Named director of youth operations at Portsmouth.

2009: February 2009 - Takes over as caretaker manager at Fratton Park following Tony Adams' departure.

July 21 - Having secured Premier League survival, is handed a two-year contract as the club's manager.

October 3 - Pompey finally secure their first Premier League win of the season after opening with seven successive defeats.

November 24 - Sacked by Portsmouth.