Portsmouth FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Steve Cotterill

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Storrie defends Johnson exit

23 Jun 2009 - 13:46:11

Click To Enlarge

Portsmouth's executive chairman Peter Storrie has defended the club's decision to allow England right-back Glen Johnson to leave Fratton Park.

The 24-year-old is set to seal a £17million switch to Liverpool, despite having only signed a new long-term contract with Pompey a matter of months ago.

Storrie told The News: "How can you question the sale of a player to a club with Champions League football on offer?

"We can't compete with that. Liverpool and Chelsea can offer Glen things we can't. Of course we don't want to lose him and I know for a fact Glen is happy here.

"But when a top-four club with Champions League football comes knocking it is very, very difficult.

"When he signed his new contract he asked us if we would give him permission to talk to a Champions League club if they should come in for him.

"This was a verbal agreement and we have honoured that. That has nothing to do with our ambition as a club."

Meanwhile, the agent of striker Peter Crouch has played down rumours linking the England man with a move away from Fratton Park.

He stated: "There has been nothing from other clubs for Peter Crouch.

"He still has a contract with Portsmouth and he intends to be there next season. He has no intention of moving on."