Portsmouth could sell players to pay off debts

Portsmouth have endured a torrid season on and off the pitch

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie says players may have to be sold to keep the club from going under.

The news comes after Pompey once again failed to pay players their December wages as the financial turmoil at the club continues.

Storrie said: "If the way to keep this club alive is to sell a couple of players again, we will have to do that - but it will be an owner's decision.

"If you do not sell, then you could well be going into administration."

The issue has been brought to a head with the latest delay in paying players for December but Pompey executive director Mark Jacob told BBC Radio Solent that the monthly wage bill, thought to amount to about £3m, will be cleared ahead of training on Thursday after funding was secured overnight.

The wages should have been paid on 31 December, but the club advised their players that the payments would be processed on 5 January. That deadline was missed, as was another on Wednesday.

It is the third month this season in which the players' wages have been delayed, although the club did pay non-playing staff their December wages on Monday.

Storrie also revealed that Portsmouth owner Ali al-Faraj had been unable to address Pompey's cashflow problems by organising new bank finance and bringing new investment on board since his arrival in October.

"The new owners have come in almost overnight and to be fair they have put a lot of money in the club," added Storrie.

"They thought they were in a strong position to replace bank finance and bring in a major new investor that was going to come in and be involved.

"But those two things have not happened and although they are working on doing that, time is catching up with them in terms of the debts and the money that is needed to run a Premier League football side."

With the club pondering whether to sell some of their most valuable players, Pompey are considering recalling striker David Nugent from his loan spell with Burnley.

"We are thinking about this," said Portsmouth manager Avram Grant.

"In the next few days we will know. It depends on many things. But it could happen."

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor is "confident" the wages issue will soon be resolved, but warned that the long-term position needs resolving.

Portsmouth, who are currently banned by the Premier League from signing players, have lurched from one financial crisis to another in a troubled season as they fight to avoid relegation.

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On Monday, it was also revealed that the Premier League is set to use Portsmouth's share of the latest television monies to pay off the club's debts to other top flight sides.

Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford are all owed money by Pompey and the Premier League will split £7m between them.

The action is allowed within league rules to protect clubs who are owed money from transfers.

The crisis does not look like easing in the longer term and fans are planning further protests against Al Faraj.

Meanwhile, the Premier League has confirmed that Pompey midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng cannot play for another club this season.

Fifa rules allow players to play for only two clubs in a season and the former Germany Under-21 international has featured for Spurs and Pompey this term.

The 22-year-old Ghana hopeful had been linked with Blackburn.

In another blow for Pompey, the club will not be able to extend Jamie O'Hara's loan.

The midfielder had been set to return to Tottenham on 15 January, and with an embargo in place, Pompey cannot re-register him with the Premier League.