Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Pompey stand firm over trio

07 Aug 2009 - 14:30:43

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Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has denied suggestions that David James, Sylvain Distin and Niko Kranjcar could all be on their way out of Fratton Park.

Pompey have sold a number of leading players during the past eight months with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Lassana Diarra and Glen Johnson all leaving the south coast club.

But despite speculation linking the trio with summer departures, Storrie insists they will all be staying.

And rather than consider further exits, the Pompey chief claims the onus is now on signing new players despite the protracted ownership saga of the club yet to be resolved.

"I want to avoid selling," he told the Portsmouth News. "If my hands are forced with certain things not happening it's a different situation but we're not there yet.

"The ones that are going to go now are purely to do with tactical reasons. We want David, Sylvain and Niko to stay.

"It's no secret we've had an offer for Sylvain, but we flatly turned it down.

"We still continuously get enquiries but we are just not interested in selling him.

"Niko has always made it clear he wants to stay and see out his current deal, but doesn't want to sign a new contract.

"That's his position and we respect his view but we will continue to knock on his door and say sign for longer.

"As for David, he's already come out and said he will stay. He's always been a fantastic professional."