Source: Daily_Mail
EXCLUSIVE: Pay up Pompey - Bottom club hit by Premier League transfer ban
Portsmouth's season has descended yet further into chaos with the Premier League now hitting them with a transfer ban. [LNB]Pompey manager Paul Hart found himself in a farcical situation on Monday when helined up free-agent Eugen Bopp as an emergency signing for last night's Carling Cupencounter with Stoke which his side won 4-0 only to then discover that the troubled club had been issued with the indefinite transfer embargo.[LNB] It doesn't rain, but it pours: Pompey manager Paul Hart has been hit by a transfer ban[LNB]The Premier League have now confirmed Sportsmail's revelation thatthey had taken the drastic action because of Portsmouth's debts toother English clubs that remain outstanding.[LNB]Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: 'We can confirm that there is anembargo on Portsmouth registering any new players.'[LNB]It is not until those debts are paid, Sportsmail understands, that the ban will be lifted.[LNB]Because so many of Portsmouth's players were cup-tied for last night's match, Hart was desperate to bring in Bopp. He had worked with the Ukrainian-born Germanmidfielder at Nottingham Forest and invited him to Fratton Park on a trial over the summer.[LNB]But it was made clear to Portsmouth by the Premier League that not until they settle their debts will they be able to take on further financial liabilities even if that liability is a player who, having had his last contract terminated by Crewe at the end of last season, would have been both free and cheap.[LNB] Denied: Pompey wanted former Nottingham Forest player Eugen Bopp (right)[LNB]The Premier League pointed to the fact that it would be madness to sign more players when they experienced such difficulties in paying the ones they already have at the end of last month.[LNB]Peter Storrie, the chief executive of the club that currently sits bottom of the Barclays Premier League, admitted recently that they are still struggling with debts of around £10million after selling the majority of their best players. [LNB]Friends in high places: Storrie[LNB]They owe money not just to other Premier League clubs but to Barclays Bank and a number of agents.[LNB]'It is true that we owe a couple of top agents a great deal of money, and if you say it is £3million I can confirm it is not far short of that figure,' said Storrie earlier this month.[LNB]'But there are other agents owed their commissions as well. It is through my friendship with them that they are not banging on the door. They have been really understanding. But we have owed money to a number of clubs, and they have also been helpful.[LNB]'I have been asking people to be patient, but they cannot be expected to be patient forever.'[LNB]Portsmouth director of communications Gary Double said: 'This concerns unpaid money to other clubs and it is in the process of being sorted.[LNB]'We are confident the situation will be sorted by the end of the week.'[LNB]The transfers involved are believed to be Lassana Diarra's move from Arsenal in January 2008 and Glen Johnson's signing from Chelsea in August 2007.[LNB]Both players have since left the club, Diarra moving to Real Madrid and Johnson to Liverpool.[LNB] Portsmouth 4 Stoke 0: Frederic Piqiounne leads rout as Pompey cruise into last eight Players warned that spitting is a swine flu risk, but Bolton boss Megson isn't worriedPORTSMOUTH FC
