GORDON STRACHAN is being tipped to be unveiled as the next Pompey boss this week.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric has hinted at making a swift appointment after stepping up his search for a new permanent manager.

Pompey have won just one of their last 12 Premiership games and have taken only a solitary point out of the last 18 available.

One national newspaper today claimed that former Saints boss Strachan, out of the professional game since quitting St Mary's 14 months ago, will be appointed within 48 hours.

But another has 'exclusively' revealed that ex-Aston Villa boss John Gregory is lined up for a return.

Gregory spent a year in charge at Fratton Park between January 1989 and January 1990,

Mandaric said last night: "I'm quite sure that maybe in the next 48 hours we'll be able to give different information than we have today.

"We are looking at a couple of different options and we said before that Velimir Zajec did not come here as a manager, he's doing this on a temporary basis.

"We are considering options to accelerate our decision. I'm quite sure my supporters will be quite pleased with what's happening."

Strachan, pictured, has always said he is not interested in taking over at Pompey, but has long been Mandaric's No 1 choice to replace Harry Redknapp.

If he does turn up at Pompey, it will add even more spice to the Fratton Park derby on Sunday, April 24.