Pompey manager Tony Pulis continued his back-room clear-out with the announcement that youth team coach Neil McNab will leave at the end of the season.

McNab has guided Pompey's youth team to within 90 minutes of a Wembley appearance in the Football League Alliance Youth Cup but will go by mutual consent.

Brought to Fratton Park by former manager Alan Ball, McNab, whose two sons are young professionals at Fratton Park, will be replaced by former Bournemouth player Mark O'Connor, Pulis's youth team coach at Bristol City.

The announcement follows a week when Pulis dispensed with john Wark as his chief scout, replacing him with Mike Trusson. It is part of Pulis's ongoing policy of getting the backroom staff with whom he feels comfortable.

Meanwhile defensive rock Darren Moore is struggling to be fit for Saturday's crunch visit to Crewe.

The big stopper developed hamstring problems in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 win over Forest and Pulis is facing an anxious few days to see if his defensive kingpin will be fit.

"He felt it during the game and battled on but it's one of those injuries where we have to be careful," said Pulis.

Saturday's trip to Gresty Road to face a bang-in-form Crewe team is the second in a series of five games for Pompey against fellow basement teams and Moore's absence would hit hard.

"He's the one out of all of them you wouldn't want to be without, especially at the back," said Pulis, who also has utility man David Waterman suffering from hamstring problems.

One bonus for Pulis is the return of striker Rory Allen who came on for the last 20 minutes in Saturday's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

"He did OK but he's nowhere near fit yet," said Pulis who is confident of bringing in at least a couple of players before next Thursday's transfer deadline.

"We still need one or two in a couple of areas, and we've got ten days to work on it and find them."

Pulis is desperate to sign a striker, with Lee Bradbury suffering a crisis of confidence at the moment.

"Steve Claridge needs somebody up there with him to help take the weight of goalscoring off his shoulders," said the Pompey boss.

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