Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth hopes of generating income by selling players dashed by lack of interest
With a range of creditors ready to demand payment on various debts, Portsmouth had hoped to push through deals for as many as four key players before the transfer window had even opened.[LNB]Since January 2009, they have generated around £75 million through player sales and slashed the wage bill by £30 million but, without sufficient equity coming in, the club are still facing a monthly struggle to even pay the staff on time.[LNB] Related ArticlesSteve Finnan: Portsmouth players are worriedPortsmouth timeline: a year to forgetDebts push Portsmouth closer to brinkDoes foreign invasion harm England?Premier League: transfer window guideSport on televisionHowever, even though the Premier League will allow Portsmouth to sell players to ease their financial crisis, the squad has already been stripped of its main assets over the past 12 months, meaning there is relatively little interest in the remaining players.[LNB]Chief executive Peter Storrie has admitted that, as things stand, he does not think Burnley want to take up an option to buy David Nugent, who is on loan at Turf Moor. [LNB]Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has ended his interest in David James, while Borussia Dortmund say they do not have the money to re-sign Kevin-Prince Boateng.[LNB]It is understood that Manchester City have cooled their interest in Younes Kaboul following the departure of manager Mark Hughes, while there has been limited interest in Nadir Belhadj or Aruna Dindane.[LNB]At the request of owner Ali al-Faraj, Storrie is now also in talks with various potential outside investors in an effort to ease the crisis.[LNB]Manager Avram Grant has made it clear that he wants to retain his squad and, despite the transfer embargo on the club, says there is a need to add players.[LNB]Portsmouth will be particularly depleted on Satruday against Coventry City, with Aaron Mokoena suspended, Jamie O'Hara unable to play in the FA Cup due to conditions of his loan from Tottenham and Kanu, Belhadj, Dindane and Hassan Yebda all now departed for the African Cup of Nations.[LNB]"We are very short now in the squad," said Grant. "We need all our players because we only have 18 players in the squad. Even with the problems we need to do our jobs. We are thinking about football and how to win the games, even if it's not easy." [LNB]
