Source: Daily_Mail
£50m bait for Peter Storrie to stay put at Portsmouth after walk out fears
Portsmouth's new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim was trying to convince chief executive Peter Storrie not to walk out and leave the club in crisis. [LNB]Storrie had earlier threatened to quit in protest at the lack of investment from Al Fahim, who finally gained control after three months of fraught negotiations. [LNB]But Al Fahim told a hastily arranged meeting of fans at Fratton Park that he will deliver £50million of new funding in the next few weeks. [LNB]When the event was over the pair left in one car for more talks designed to convince Storrie not to end his seven years at the club.[LNB]Al Fahim told a sceptical audience that the funding had come from institutional investors in America, saying that he was not borrowing against the club's assets but'against himself'. The money would be used to pay off some of the club's debts and to fund transfers in the January window.[LNB] Troubles: Portsmouth Chairman Sulaiman Al Fahim, right,and chief executive Peter Storrie[LNB]Significantly, he said he was seeking further investors, perhapsleaving the door open for Storrie's own consortium of Saudi businessmento play a role in the club's future.[LNB]He described Storrie as 'the most important person at the footballclub', in light of his role in fighting off the club's creditors andhelping to avoid entering administration.[LNB]Storrie had earlier issued a statement through the club's website that stopped short of pledging his future to Portsmouth.[LNB]Al Fahim also gave his backing to beleaguered manager Paul Hart, whois under pressure after starting the season with six defeats.[LNB]Al Fahim said: 'My focus, along with everyone at the football club,is on tomorrow's match against Everton. This club is not about oneindividual and it's imperative thatwe concentrate our efforts on supporting Paul Hart and the team.'[LNB]Storrie will attend today's game this lunchtime but that could yetbe his last official act for the club. He believed a rival consortiumhe was fronting, backed by Saudi property investor Ali Al Faraj, was onthe verge of completing a Pompey takeover last month only for previousowner Alexandre Gaydamak to pull the plug at the 11th hour.[LNB]That decision by Gaydamak could prove to have catastrophic effects,with speculation rife that Portsmouth need to find around £6million bythe middle of next month to stave off administration.[LNB]Should that occur, rock-bottom Pompey would be left facing almostcertain relegation, given the 10-point penalty they would suffer. [LNB]Concerns have also been raised that Storrie's departure couldthreaten agreements over deferring money still owed to Chelsea andTottenham for player purchases.[LNB]On top of the boardroom power struggle, manager Hart is facing anuncertain future following Portsmouth's abysmal start to the PremierLeague season. [LNB]Speaking ahead of today's crunch fixture, Hart insisted: 'I don'tfeel under pressure. Pressure from what? I want to get results, that'swhat I'm looking for. What have I got to fear?'[LNB] Portsmouth v EVERTON: Late fitness test for Yakubu ahead of Pompey matchCarling Cup kids: Club-by-club guide to who's giving youth a chance[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Sulaiman Al Fahim, Peter Storrie, David Villa
