TONY PULIS is to contest a charge of misconduct which yesterday saw him sacked by Portsmouth Football Club.

League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell, whose organisation have taken up the case, confirmed today that a letter has been sent to Fratton Park and they were awaiting a response.

The former Bournemouth and Bristol City manager was only appointed at Fratton Park on a four-year deal 12 months ago, but had his contract terminated yesterday by Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric.

The nature of the charge remains a mystery, and even some of the Fratton Park backroom staff admitted they had no idea what had happened.

All chairman Mandaric would say is: "Certain investigations threw up some matters we weren't happy about and the board of directors decided to charge Tony with gross misconduct."

Pulis, who was appointed as Blues' boss last January and managed to steer the club off the bottom of the table and away from the relegation zone, was keeping a low profile.

But Barnwell, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, said: "We have advised no public statements because the situation is so confrontational, and it would be in no-one's interest to put the issue any further into the public domain."

It is the second time that Pulis has been accused of misconduct. Pulis was placed on four months' suspended leave and replaced by striker Steve Claridge in the middle of October to allow him to concentrate on fighting a High Court case against his former club Gillingham and their chairman Paul Scally.

There has been speculation that Claridge may be handed the Portsmouth job on a permanent basis in the next few days.

* Pompey's Chris Tardif gave a superb display of goalkeeping last night as Pompey reserves drew 2-2 at Crystal Palace.

The Channel Islander, who until recently had been well out of favour, showed just why he is back in the reckoning with a series of point-blank saves to ensure his side travelled home with a point.

Carl Pettefer opened the scoring after 35 minutes, taking a superb pass from Luke Nightingale in his stride, rounding the keeper and angling a shot into the net.

Just after the interval, the impressive Rowan Vine thumped a second, the ball taking a deflection which left the keeper going the wrong way.

Midfielder Tom Curtis came through his third reserve outing since injury and showed that he will now be pushing for a quick return to first team action.