Avram Grant’s return to Portsmouth has been delayed by work-permit red tape.

Grant, 54, was recently reappointed Director of Football at the struggling Premier League club and although he was expected to start work on Monday, the Home Office will not allow the Israel to resume his old post until his application has been considered and signed off.

“There is nothing we can do to speed it up,” said Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie. “He has applied in the normal way and all we can do is wait and see what happens. It is annoying but these things take time.”

While there is no suggestion Grant will not be granted a permit, the process could take up to two weeks to be finalised.