Pompey’s Entire Playing Staff Up For Sale

TROUBLED Portsmouth last night put their whole squad up for sale. And Starsport can reveal that the cash-strapped outfit are so desperate for money they even asked the Premier League to guarantee a loan so they could pay their players. Portsmouth secured a lending facility to cover the outstanding £1.8m wage bill. But one of the conditions was that the League guaranteed the money – and they refused to do so.

Pompey’s first-team squad have STILL not been paid their December salaries, which are now seven days overdue. And the Professional Footballers’ Association will hold showdown talks with the club today to resolve it.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor said: “We have been assured the monies will be paid this week.” Portsmouth are under a transfer embargo which will not be lifted until they prove they can pay off their debts. The situation is so bad they will listen to offers for all 24 senior players along with more than 20 of the youth squad.

French defender Younes Kaboul has been singled-out as the club’s most valuable asset and is close to a £5m switch to Lyon. Nigerian John Utaka is in talks about a cut-price move to Sochaux. But a Tottenham swoop for England No. 1 David James has been thrown into doubt by the keeper’s wage demands.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.