Portsmouth win their battle to have transfer embargo lifted after 103 days

26 January 2010 15:05
The Premier League have lifted the transfer embargo placed on Portsmouth - but they can only sign players on loan or as free transfers.[LNB]The relegation-threatened club now face a race against time to improve their squad before the transfer window closes at 5pm on Monday.[LNB]The Premier League have allowed them to conduct basic business - but will not sanction transfers involving transfer fees. This is understood to be because Pompey still have further payments to rivals clubs pending.[LNB] Tough times: Portsmouth are rock bottom of the Premier League[LNB]A Premier League statement read: 'The board of the Premier League has today lifted the player registration embargo on Portsmouth Football Club under the conditions that they are limited to signing players on loan or who are available on a free transfer. [LNB]'The Board has taken this action as Portsmouth FC has no outstanding debts to football clubs as of this date.'[LNB]Pompey had been blocked from bringing in new recruits for the last 103days, with former manager Paul Hart only discovering the sanction whenhe tried to sign former Nottingham Forest midfielder Eugen Bopp on afree transfer in October.[LNB][LNB]Big freeze: Boss Avram Grant[LNB]The Premier League lifted the embargo after Pompey came to an agreement with Udinese over money owed for the transfer of Sulley Muntari 18 months ago.[LNB]Cash-strapped Portsmouth will also return around £1.6m owed to the Blues, Sky television money they had previously withheld.[LNB]Portsmouth's executive director Mark Jacob told The News: 'We have beenworking very, very hard behind the scenes and are delighted the embargo has now been lifted.[LNB]'It will now enable Avram Grant to strengthen the squad where necessary. This is another piece of the jigsaw we are trying to put back together.[LNB] 'I sincerely hope supporters can get fully behind the team tonight against West Ham for what is a crucial match and generate that Fratton fortressatmosphere once again.'[LNB]New boss Grant is desperate to bring in new faces, and has such athreadbare squad that he is considering naming only three substitutesfrom a possible seven in the team to face West Ham at Fratton Park onTuesday night.[LNB] [LNB] On the radar: Razvan Cocis (left) could be handed a chance at Fratton Park[LNB]Grant has lined up a number of potential recruits. He is considering a move for Colombia goalkeeper Robinson Zapata, who could arrive from Steaua Bucharest if David James moves to Stoke City.[LNB]Former Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Razvan Cocis, a Romania international, could arrive on a free transfer. [LNB]And former Arsenal and Birmingham forward Quincy Owusu-Abeyie is an option, though Spanish side Malaga are also in the running to take him on loan from Spartak Moscow.[LNB] Crisis club Portsmouth face new low by naming just three substitutesCash-strapped Portsmouth want to sell David Nugent, according to Burnley manager Brian Laws PORTSMOUTH v West Ham: No return for Pompey striker David NugentPORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail