In a revealing article in 'The Times' Steve Claridge has launched a pre match attack at Milan Mandaric as well as Graham Rix, breaking a clause in his redundancy package.

borrowed time

Yesterday's Evening News had an article with Steve Claridge that revealed absolutely nothing. Since his bitter departure earlier this year, Claridge has stayed silent, honouring a clause in his redundancy package that forbid him from speaking of his time in the Fratton Park hotseat. However now it is The Times that has surprisingly given Claridge the platform to air his views.

On actual appointment of Rix, Claridge said: “It was all done behind my back, Mandaric was persuaded by Rix's agent that he should take over because he had been ‘running' Chelsea.”

Claridge continues by saying that he "doesn't hate, but doesn't like” Rix and reckons he is tactically “way off” - a surprising statement considering Claridge's poor record as Pompey manager all be it in difficult circumstances.

After these statements from Claridge, the journalist launches an extraordinary attack on Milan Mandaric - quoting sources and insiders - but never a fan. Mandaric is described as a volatile chairman with 'quixotic' methods. Maybe fair statements considering Mandaric's record of hiring and firing managers but to contine and say that 'Mandaric has been a disaster' and to ridicule fans for deeming Mandaric a 'saviour' just because he pops into the pub before a game, shows a journalist who has been misinformed by people are are bitter at Mandaric's success.

According to this article, Mandaric is not too keen on Rix - "He doesn't like his

ruthless

earring, his smoking, his inarticulacy and his lack of passion and he can't wait to get rid of him.” Apparently this game is the match that could decide Rix's fate and Rix is "always three games away from the sack" He progresses to state that Harry Redknapp is waiting in the wings - all statements that have been doing the rounds on internet message boards for months.

This is obviously an article fueled by people bitter at Mandaric's reign - there is no doubt that the Chairman can be ruthless but he has the right intentions at heart and with Rix firmly at the helm there is no doubt that Pompey are as healthy as they've been in a long time.

This article is probably just viscious rumour - a page filler by a journalist who thinks Pompey play in red and white - in other words a man who know's nothing about Pompey. Or he could be a man who just writes the truth and Rix's job really could be on the edge - like many people 'in the know' suggest.

My bet is that this is all paper talk - slightly more credible due to its place in The Times but rumour nevertheless. However if I am proved wrong and Rix becomes Mandaric's fifth casualty, I think it is Mandaric who will receive the criticism and our true and rightful saviour would soon become the villan.