However, Peter Storrie and Tanya Robins are expected to survive the first wave of redundancies set in motion by Andrew Andronikou.

The News understands as many as 85 could today be shown the door as administrators slash personnel.

Groups of staff have been given times for meetings throughout Wednesday to learn of their fate.

A press conference is due to be held at 5pm today where administrator Andrew Andronikou will reveal his plan.

Executive director Jacob has already gone after being informed of the news this morning.

However, he was not a paid employee of the club.

In the meantime, Storrie and Robins are believed to be safe as they continue to help the administrator with his efforts.

Pompey's chief executive is understood to be remaining for the time being to help find an owner and assist Avram Grant on the football side of matters.

He had already agreed to a substantial pay-cut.

Tug Wilson, training ground manager, has also lost his job.

He said: 'It's been a very bad day for a lot of people but it is not a sad day for me. I've worked here for eight and a half years and I've enjoyed my time at Portsmouth.

'I wish the club all the best and all the success in the world.

'I feel bad for other people who have lost their jobs. Some of them will need that money to pay mortgages, although I'm not in that position and hopefully they will all be re-employed once the club finds a new owner.

'No one wants to see the club go under.'

One staff member from the Pompey Youth Academy emerged from a meeting at Fratton Park this morning. He was told he was being axed with immediate effect.

The man, who didn't want to be named, said he was three weeks short of being entitled to redundancy money. He will now rely on getting the government's statutory redundancy cash which is likely to take weeks.

He told The News: 'I asked them if there was any dialogue about possibly taking a pay cut and they told that hadn't been considered.

'I'm still taking it in. I hope there's a buyer found, there might still be a chance of getting my job back.

'I'm absolutely gutted.'

Warehouse worker Mike Crawford, 42, from Tunstall Road, Cosham, walked out before his scheduled meeting as he said he knew he was going to be axed.

He said the staff members who were being fired were being taken into the boardroom, while those who are staying were ushered into chief executive Peter Storrie's office to renegotiate their contracts.

Mr Crawford said he and other staff members were being treated badly.

'What they're doing is going past all common decency. I've just been kept hanging on, I had to find out about my meeting yesterday in The News.

'You've got an administrator talking about transparency but the employees are being treated like dirt. I don't suffer fools gladly.

'I just think what they are doing to us is just disgraceful.'

One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, added: 'I'm very worried - we're all just hanging on waiting to find out.'

Another added: 'I'm just trying to keep out the way before they tell me.'

Mr Andronikou has already pledged to 'cut to the bone' when he took over at Fratton Park.

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