Cotterill facing uphill struggle

Steve Cotterill admits taking charge at Portsmouth has left him facing a near 'impossible situation' - but insists he is not fazed by the job. The former Burnley and Notts County boss has inherited a side ravaged by financial upheaval.He has a wafer-thin squad at his disposal, no money to spend and the threat of closure still hanging over the club.Cotterill, though, is unfazed by the challenge ahead and is prepared to give his utmost to the Fratton Park post."It's almost an impossible situation but I've got to make it work," he said."There are so many people relying on me."I have only seven players who are good enough for the Championship, eight if you include Ibrahima Sonko who I've just taken from Stoke."The goalkeeper is 18 but he's not strong enough for the first team. I need another three players for a proper team."The kids are not up to it yet. They will be going out on loan so I can replace them and bring the squad up to the 20 we have been allowed by the Football League under special dispensation."Cotterill, who turned down the opportunity to stay on at Notts County this summer after leading them into League One, admits he sees Pompey as a stepping stone to future glory.He hopes to have a shot at the Premier League at some stage in his career and feels working minor miracles at Fratton Park could help him to achieve that goal."I don't see it as a no-win situation at all," he said."If I can turn this round, I can do anything."It would be such a big achievement that it might just earn me a chance as a Premier League manager which, let's be honest, is what we all aspire to."

Source: Team_Talk