Source: Team_Talk
Grant focused on football not finance
Avram Grant is one of Portsmouth's many frustrated creditors - but he is focusing on the football side of things and may yet stay at the club.[LNB] When Grant took over from sacked Paul Hart in November, Pompey's liabilities were assessed at around £60million. Several new owners and four months later the figure was revised to double that amount.[LNB]And the latest news released this week shows that the Fratton Park club, now in administration, in fact owe around £138million.[LNB]Now Grant, who has taken Pompey - against all odds - to the FA Cup final and led a valiant fight against relegation until their infamous nine-points deduction, admits his terms of employment have been radically downgraded.[LNB]He said: "My original contract ran until 2012 but when the administrator came in they told me that was no longer valid. And, to be honest, I don't know what the terms of it are now.[LNB]"There was a time when nobody was getting paid. I'm getting something now but certainly not everything.[LNB]"But I've put that on one side for now because we have to concentrate on football and then see where we go.[LNB]"I will give the club a little more time because the administrator keeps saying he has a few parties interested in taking over.[LNB]"But I need to know some facts soon or it will be too late. We have to start preparations for a new season in the Championship and I would say that must be before the end of May."[LNB]The Israeli added: "I've decided not to think too much about my own financial situation because otherwise I would become very angry.[LNB]"There have been lots of broken promises, of course, Now they have told me I will be the first to know where we are going but that can't be left until the last minute.[LNB]"We will have players' contracts and everything else to sort out and that must happen as soon as possible."[LNB]Grant's defiant efforts at Fratton Park have been widely recognised in the game and he is expected to have no shortage of alternative offers if he decides to quit after the Wembley date with Chelsea.[LNB]Yet he maintains: "I have so many good feelings about the club and if I could see some facts about the direction we will be taking I would be very happy.[LNB]"I still believe there is potential here and that we've proved already we didn't deserve to be relegated from the Premier League.[LNB]"I could have left in January if it was just a case of money and I'm hoping there is still a chance for the club to get back - but with a debt of £138million it is impossible.[LNB]"At Portsmouth we always have surprises but now the situation is not good for us nor for the Premier League.[LNB]"I cannot blame them for what has happened here but I think they should look in a better way at just why (it happened).[LNB]"If they think of another way of dealing with new owners, with new people coming into football, Portsmouth will not be the last to suffer - that's for sure."[LNB]Grant has also admitted he will not be fielding his FA Cup final team in the last Premier League game of the season at Everton on Sunday - but not because he aims to protect his best players for the big date with Chelsea.[LNB]He explained: "As we well know, injuries can happen at any time, in training as well as matches but we certainly don't want any more of them.[LNB]"You could say we have about 10 players in doubt for Wembley next week, it's nothing new, but at Everton I will field the fittest."
