Harry Redknapp may be gone but he has clearly not been forgotten by Milan Mandaric.

It was not difficult to guess what Portsmouth's chairman was hinting at yesterday when he said he felt "reborn" after appointing Velimir Zajec as manager until at least the end of the season.

Mandaric spoke at length about how much he trusts Zajec, and the inferences of his remarks were clear after the troubles that marred the last months of Redknapp's time at Fratton Park and his move to Southampton.

"I'm not going to talk about previous managers, but when I say I'm reborn I'm sure you can read between the lines there," Mandaric said. "I am very happy with this man as far as trusting his knowledge of the game but also trusting him as a person who will do what is best for the club and not necessarily what is best for himself."

Zajec has been asked to continue working with the first-team coach Joe Jordan for "the foreseeable future". Mandaric said that could mean anything from Zajec reverting to his post as executive director next summer or continuing to run the team for the three-and-a-half years of his contract. "It's hard to say," he added.

The appointment will prompt knowing glances given Zajec's arrival at Portsmouth prompted Redknapp to quit four weeks ago. Mandaric stressed, though, that he had not brought in the Croat to succeed Redknapp.

Zajec has spent more time as a director of football than as a coach, though he coached Croatia Zagreb and Panathinaikos. He said his proudest coaching achievement had been leading Zagreb to wins over Ajax and Porto in the 1998-99 Champions League. He said he was happy to accept this challenge.

"I'm a soldier of the club and I am supposed to do what is best for the team," he said.

Guardian Service