Mandaric rules out Portsmouth return

04 October 2010 12:03
Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric has closed the door on a potential return to Portsmouth.

Speaking after reports linked him with a homecoming to the troubled Fratton Park club, where he spent eight largely successful years in charge before selling up in 2006, Mandaric has revealed he cannot meet the expectations of the club`s fans or those of himself.

But he insists he will return to a football club somewhere in the country whenever it is that Leicester`s new Thai owners decide his services are no longer required at the Walkers Stadium, with Mandaric hoping their takeover will be ratified by the Football League later this week.

"I`ve been here (in English football) for 11 years and I love the game. I`m not here for business or making money," said Mandaric. "I intend to stay here, I love the country and I love the game. One day when my owners (at Leicester) say `chairman, we don`t need you any more you can go', then I`ll still be in football somewhere.

"I think Portsmouth should take care of their own problems now. I'm going to say it maybe for the first time now after all the speculation, I don't think I can meet the expectations of the great supporters over there that I love so much and my own expectations if I go back at this time. So for that reason I'm ruling myself almost out of that."

Source: PA