Portsmouth have unveiled former Marseille boss Alain Perrin as their new manager.

Perrin, 48, will be assisted until the end of the season by David Pleat, the former Luton and Tottenham manager, who has taken on a consultancy role.

“I’m very happy to join the Premiership because it is the best championship in Europe,” Perrin said after signing a two-year contract with Pompey.

“I don’t want to change anything, I trust them to get results and I want to give my experience and enthusiasm.”

Chairman Milan Mandaric dismissed speculation that the appointment of Perrin was a panic move with Portsmouth hovering just four points above the relegation zone.

“I’m confident we will stay up,” he said.

“I said I was going to bring a new manager in at the end of the season. I clearly found the man that I wanted. It is the perfect time for him to come here.

“He is a man of integrity, solid personality, a football man and a good coach.

“It is something I’ve always wanted, my manager to coach and mould the players into a team. I looked at other people I could bring and he was the number one.

“You can always look back and every general is smarter after the war is finished. Maybe we should have made the appointment earlier, but I think the timing is good enough.”

Mandaric confirmed that Pleat would only be working for the club until the end of the season, helping Perrin bed down in the job.

“We’re looking at seven important games and David indicated to me he was available,” Mandaric said.

“Alain needs to know about other teams and in David I couldn’t find a better man to give Alain all the help he would need.”

Pleat added: “Alain will lead the players and I don’t think we should over-dramatise the current situation, they should be looking up.

“I won’t be here much at all, but I’ll be on the end of the phone to give him any advice at any time.

“His record at Troyes was absolutely unbelievable. He’s very gifted and if I can help his passage I’ll feel some satisfaction.

“If they want to know anything about anything I’ll be around to help in any way I can.”

Perrin guided Troyes to thre e promotions and into the Uefa Cup.

He then moved to Marseille, steering the club into the Champions League in his first season, before his dismissal last year.