Portsmouth deny administration reports

Portsmouth have responded to speculation over their financial state by insisting the club is not going into administration.

Speculation over Pompey's position has intensified since last week when it emerged players had been paid their wages late for a second time this season.

In a strongly-worded statement yesterday, the troubled Premier League club reiterated new owner Ali Al Faraj's determination to tackle their financial problems.

They also insisted chief executive Peter Storrie was not leaving Fratton Park.

The statement read: "The owner and board of Portsmouth Football Club are disappointed at recent inaccurate media speculation regarding the club's finances and the threat of administration.

"Ali Al Faraj and his associates took over the running of the club and inherited a business that had substantial debts.

"Dealing with the finances has been the priority since Al Faraj came in to pay the players before taking over the club from Sulaiman Al Fahim.

"The club is not going into administration. If that were the case it would have happened at the end of September or early October."