Source: Daily_Mail
Liam Lawrence granted emergency loan to crisis club Portsmouth
Liam Lawrence will finally join Portsmouth today on an emergency loan from Stoke City.[LNB] The Republic of Ireland midfielder had been expected to move to the cash-strapped Championship club permanently but the move was blocked by the Football League.[LNB] On the move: Ireland's Liam Lawrence[LNB] Portsmouth already have Ibrahima Sonko and Carl Dickinson on loan from Stoke and league rules permit no more than two players can be loaned from the same club. [LNB]However, Lawrence's move has now been given 'emergency' status which allows Portsmouth dispensation to loan him until the January window when the deal will be ratified as permanent.[LNB] Lawrence, who returned from international duty, said the fiasco had not put him off.[LNB] He said: 'I didn't know anything about it. Robbie Keane said at dinner yesterday, ''What's going on?'' and I said ''What do you mean?'' He said ''I think you'd better ring your agent''. So I rang my agent and he said that he didn't want to bother me while I was away. ''I didn't want to wreck your head while you're concentrating on tonight's game''.[LNB] 'I spoke to Steve Cotterill and he said ''I didn't want to bother you with it''! So I let them sort it out.[LNB] 'It's a step down. The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world but it's a new challenge and hopefully we can turn the club around and then see what happens. Trust me, it wasn't an easy decision.[LNB] 'I've had the family saying ''Think long and hard.'' That's why it went so late on the deadline day because I was toing and froing all day and it was a real tough decision but the only decision that made it important for me was that I was going to play football and the Ireland manager was happy with that. That's all I want to do. That's all I need.'[LNB] Pennant targets permanent move to Stoke as well as top 10 finishPortsmouth anger at Football League after Lawrence move is blocked [LNB] [LNB]
