Reports from South Africa suggest a deal could be on the table within 14 days.

Football agent Mike Makaab told South Africa's Sunday Times he was acting as a 'contact person' for the consortium.

He added: 'I am confident that a bid will be made within 14 days.'

Mr Makaab, who has a lead role in sports management company Prosport Interna- tional, would not divulge the names of the backers of the bid.

But he did clarify the role of South African gold tycoon Greg James, who had been linked to buying Pompey.

As reported in The News, Mr James, the majority shareholder in Prosport, had met club officials in Portsmouth last weekend.

But Mr Makaab said this was coincidental.

'He was simply there to explore synergies between his JAG sports foundation and Portsmouth's very strong community-oriented development programme,' he said.

While Mr Makaab acknowledged that these were not the best of economic times, he said that carrying debt was part and parcel of life in the Premiership.

He added: 'A lot depends on the numbers – if numbers don't work out, deals don't happen.'

Pompey today dismissed the claims.

Club spokesman Gary Double said: 'This is purely speculation.'