ALAIN PERRIN reckons he can give relegation-haunted Pompey immediate "impulse" and "impact" - even though he admits he knows "nothing at all" about tomorrow's opponents Charlton.

Perrin, 48, will be on the bench at Fratton Park just two days after his appointment for the last seven games of the season - and the next two years.

And he will receive a full report on Charlton from former Tottenham manager and Director of Football David Pleat, who has also come in at Pompey for the rest of the campaign.

Although coach Joe Jordan looks likely to be the man to pick the team for the crunch meeting with Alan Curbishley's out-of-form London side, Perrin boasts: "I can bring him impulse by being on the bench and have an impact with the players at the same time.

"After that I will work with Joe Jordan and Velimir Zajec. It is something I have always wanted to do, to come into English football, but I need some help at first and the club have recognised that."

Zajec is ready to revert at once to his executive director role to which chairman Milan Mandaric initially appointed him in November - sparking Harry Redknapp's infamous walk-out not long after.

But the former Panathinaikos supremo played a big part in spotting Perrin's worth and will continue to hunt signings abroad.

The Frenchman made his name in French football was made at Troyes, the unfashionable club he raised from nowhere in the 1990s - with Saints defender Michael Svensson playing a key role - to three successive French promotions and a run in the UEFA Cup.

The man who was on Saints' shortlist before they appointed Paul Sturrock 13 months ago did learn his trade there under Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, to whom he again expects to turn for advice.

But for now he has Pleat, who admits he has taken a "strange" role and intends to do it "at arms' length."

He said: "I won't be here much - if at all, although obviously I would want to see a few matches.

"But I'll always be available on the end of a phone if Alain wants me and I've got him a report on Charlton through another Premiership manager.

"I don't see my life changing that much. I've already made two commitments to the BBC for next week but Alain will be alright.

"You must look at his record with Troyes. That is where his quality shows. He's a good choice.

"This is a move cleverly done by the Portsmouth chairman."

Mandaric denies, of course, it has been made out of panic after Pompey collected just five points from their last 12 League games and slumped to within four points of the drop zone.

But he said: "It is easy to look back and a month ago we might have thought the war was finished. But the situation has demanded repair and I never hesitate if there are decisions to be made."

Serb millionaire Mandaric, however, is showing sure signs of his weariness after six seasons in command at Pompey where he has had seven managers, including caretakers.

Pompey have fitness doubts over Andy Griffin (calf) and Arjan de Zeeuw (shin) after neither trained yesterday, but will almost certainly name an attacking line-up led by out-of-sorts Yakubu, who has scored 14 goals this season but only one this year.