FORMER Saints and Pompey defender Jon Gittens could be the next high-profile boss of Fareham Town.

The Botley-based 38-year-old is in the frame to take charge of the Jewson Wessex League club, who recently parted company with ex-England, Stoke and Pompey winger Mark Chamberlain.

Gittens was plucked out of non-League football by Saints back in 1985 after completing a two-year menswear tailoring course in Birmingham.

He joined Swindon Town for £40,000 two years later but was re-signed by the Saints during Chris Nicholl's reign for £400,000 on the eve of the 1991 transfer deadline.

He was sold to Middlesbrough for half that sum just over a year later and went on to play for Portsmouth, Torquay United and Exeter.

Fareham's director of football Duncan Pratt is taking care of team matters at Cams Alders until the end of the season, but said: "It's never been my intention to do the job permanently and there will be a role for someone to come in as manager next season.

"Jon's been doing some coaching for me and we seem to be on the same wavelength, but we're just getting to know each other at the moment.

"I know he'd like to manage a club so, who knows? If it works out, he could take over here."