POMPEY boss Alan Ball was upbeat and chipper after having what he described as a "wonderful meeting" with new chairman Milan Mandaric yesterday.

Ball emerged from the one-on-one meeting saying "I have lots of directives from him, he's very positive, I'm very impressed with him."

"I'm thrilled and delighted that at last I can get my teeth into the job."

"He's the type of man who wants action rather than words," said Ball who will have a chance to put that into action this summer.

Although he would not be drawn on the size of the chequebook made available to him, Ball will have money made available to him to play in the transfer market this summer.

It's a departure from life under the Gregory regime, and Ball said "I can't believe it."

"At last the fans will have a bit of excitement during the close season, knowing there will be some new faces when we kick off in August. And I've already got my eyes on one or two targets.

Ball, who also wanted a clar-ification over the longer term matters such as the establishment of a youth academy said: "He was ahead of me on that and told me the sort of thing he wants for the future."

"It was a very positive meeting and am excited by it."

Meanwhile Terry Brady looks set to retain a seat on the Fratton Park board.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.