And judging from the comments from the fans, I wouldn't blame them for changing their minds and declaring that they wouldn't touch the job with someone else's barge-pole. Rather than decide that it might be a good idea to get behind the new team and hope that they can get the valuable points needed to secure Premiership safety, instead I seem to have witnessed the biggest and most pathetic display of whinging ever displayed by Portsmouth fans.
Now let me get one thing clear from the outset. I am not David Pleat's biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination; he was poor at Spurs last year and he has an irritating voice. I'm not sure why he's here when surely Joe Jordan could do the job he's been brought in for but what's important is that he IS here. What's more, I do not know much about Perrin other than his exploits with Troyes and Marseille, and I do not know or indeed promise that he will come forth as some kind of messiah and deliver us up the table and away to league chasing glory.
However, I am prepared to give him a chance.
When the rumours first came out this morning that Perrin could be the new man for the job, the messageboards exploded into life. "Who?" they ranted. "Another European nobody", said one, "what's he ever achieved?" Well, aside from taking a non-league French team to the UEFA Cup and Marseille to the Champions League, absolutely nothing. Other than those two minor issues, of course. But that's not important, because a few Portsmouth fans haven't heard of him. The same fans who recoiled in horror at the thought that Co Adriaanse could be our new gaffer by virtue of him not being famous enough, despite taking an unfashionable side to second in the Dutch League - and the fact that in the terms of the Premiership, we're really not that attractive a proposition.
I can understand some people are frustrated that names thrown about by the media - in particular Gordon Strachan - are not going to be taking over. But the way some have turned on Milan over these things is ridiculous. One fan branded Mandaric "a liar" for appointing Perrin. Lying about what, exactly? Milan met Strachan twice - that we know about - tried to offer him the job, tried to get him on side. For whatever reason - be it not being happy with the set-up, not wanting to turn his back on his Southampton links, not being offered enough money - he didn't want the job. Milan made no secret that Strachan was his number one target but STRACHAN wasn't interested. Not vice versa. Then there's other names like Koeman, invented by the media and someone about whom Mr Chairman said, "I wouldn't put money on him coming to Portsmouth". Liar? Yes, that clearly makes sense. Lying about bringing an experienced British manager into the club? No, that's Pleat. Lying about bringing in a European coach? No, that's Perrin.
What worries me is that all this comes before contracts have been signed. Before Perrin has even met the players. Before he's even played a single match. It's not as if we've had a couple of months (and even then that's nowhere near enough - ask Dario Gradi) to see if he's up to the task, people are just happily ready to criticise before we've even begun. I dread to think what will happen if we lose on Saturday, no doubt it'll be all his fault and he won't be up to the task. (If we win, of course, it'll be nothing to do with the manager and he'll still have everything to prove).
It can be argued why we are changing things at this stage of the season - but on the one hand people wanted Zajec out, so here's the new manager but let's complain anyway. On the one hand people don't want to take a risk, yet they complain about Pleat - with years of experience - working as a consultant. On the one hand, we have no idea how he's going to do so why not support from the outset, rather than waiting for him to fail?
Go on, flame away. I'm sick to death of fans complaining all the time. Where does it get us? What does a little faith cost? I'm going to be accused of being a happy clappy fan, of being stuck up Milan's arse, whatever sort of petty little insults wish to be thrown my way - but I'm beyond caring. The fact that our new manager is signing a contract tomorrow and many have spent the whole of today coming up with theories and reasons why he shouldn't be here is an embarrassment in my opinion.
I'm not asking people to bow down at his feet and declare unconditional love. But would holding fire on the criticism until we actually know more about him and his style of play, ideas for the future and suchlike be too much to ask?