Appleton still targeting Thorne return
114419-969_POMPEY_SAINTS_SR_18/12/11 Pompey vs Southampton at Fratton PArk in the big derby clash. George Thorne. Picture:Steve Reid 114419-969
Michael Appleton is refusing to admit defeat in his long-running attempt to reunite George Thorne with Pompey.
But the Blues boss remains in the dark over when a potential loan deal can be resurrected.
Thorne and Joe Mattock had been given permission by the Football League to return to Fratton Park from West Brom.
However, their arrivals were delayed amid an injury crisis at the Hawthorns.
Now Pompey’s on-going wage problems have sabotaged the plans.
Mattock instead moved to Brighton on transfer deadline day until the end of the season.
Thorne remains an option, though, and is eager to come back. The emergency loan window opens on Wednesday and closes at the end of March.
As it stands, Appleton doesn’t even know if he can bring in a replacement for Ryan Williams.
Yet Pompey’s manager remains determined to find a way to recapture Thorne.
He said: ‘If there was an opportunity when the emergency loan window opens to bring George back we would love to.
‘Although, if you are asking me whether Ryan (Williams) going means I can now bring one back, I am not too sure.
‘Who knows if anyone will go during the loan window?
‘I don’t want to think about that at the minute.
‘Every time I ask one question, I get an answer and the goalposts change slightly.
‘But I know George, if given the opportunity, would love to come back.
‘He was texting me on Tuesday to see what was happening.
‘I need to speak to Roy Hodgson as well and ask whether Keith Andrews going to West Brom means George is open and free to maybe go out until the end of the season?
‘There’s the wage issue as well.
‘It helps to go into a football club who can actually pay the players.’
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Comments
There are 40 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
bluelagoon
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:06 PM39 wjd - says "I think AA has done a very poor job. He seems to be acting only on Chanrai's behalf, not CSI's as I thought was his job." ---- I'm not quite sure I follow this distinction - it exists technically, but in reality? AA has to act to maximize the interests of the creditors. Chainrai is the big secured creditor at £17 million (says in the official papers). CSI, including all its assets, will probably not even bring in that much. So AA must raise the biggest possible sum for Chainrai. Whether we like it or not, that is his job.
wjd
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:42 PMTo answer the earlier question of one poster, No, I think AA has done a very poor job. He seems to be acting only on Chanrai's behalf, not CSI's as I thought was his job. Either way, I still think a buyer for Pompey will be found although am sure it will be at the 11th hour as only at that point will Chanrai finally understand that he will not get anything like the price he (and AA on his behalf) has been asking. So, along with all other Pompey fans, I expect to be getting increasingly nervous as the 20th approaches, but I retain the belief that we will be OK..
emeraldsnake
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:05 PMIm not worried about all the silence, and using that as an excuse not to support our club is crazy! I love to watch MY team POMPEY play football! All the cloak and dagger stuff that, lets face it, we know nothing about, will not stop me screaming and shouting and having a great time at Fratton Park, win or lose, on Saturdays! C`mon people, stop making excuses. Lets party at the park! Dont let the money men drag you down, the fat lady has not sung yet!
carisbrooke
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:13 PMWould you like a fiver on that?
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:10 PMMaybe Hull are bringing 3,000 supporters in suport of Pack The Park!!
carisbrooke
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:58 PMChimonkey and others - just had a look at tickets. Fratton End and South Stand looking pretty solid, just a few hundred left, still more to sell on the North Stand - AND THE GREAT BLANK SPACE ON THE MILTON END - where there will be few hundred hardy Hull fans wondering why they have no mates!
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:22 PMOk, i just sent 2 messages. Why is one 'pending'? Is it because i used the word b**ger? Or is it my other message that says for ****s sake? Why isn't at least one of my messages (replying to Carisbrooke and andi4asg) up? PUP??
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:17 PMPost 31...bugger!! Poor Zorro!! Post 32...carisbrooke...good job i'm still excellent at maths!! Is it pay on the day? If so, why hasn't it been advertised as such? That would bump it up a bit. I can see 2,000 odd tickets going today if the forecast stays good (not freezing and no snow). PUP. KEEP THE FAITH & FOR ****'S SAKE...PACK THE PARK!!!
carisbrooke
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:01 PMChimonkey @26 - Good work on counting the ticket sales, I still believehope that there will be late takers who lift that figure even higher, especially with the £2 matchday surcharge waived. If only the officials had shown some vision and faith in their own campaign and opened up Milton End sales a week ago, I am sure there would have been even more. Pack the Park PUP.
andi4asg
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:58 PMPost 30. you can't get live commentary on those sites due to copyright laws
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:48 PMPost 27...Zorro900....as far as i can tell, ur only chance is to listen to it on either the Express FM website or via the BBC Solent website. Good luck!! PUP. KEEP THE FAITH.
ozinaus
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:47 PMIHOBSON,if appys is like twitchy hope he don't go on holiday in the south of France any time soon! 1 things 4 sure he is the eternal optomist that's 4 sure.
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:45 PMThat should be 15,244 plus any Hull fans!!
zorro900
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:45 PMsadly because I can no longer travel, and stuck with my ass here in Germany , I was hoping that somewhere on my pc I could watch tomorrows game, but the only one being shown anywhere ( as far as I can find out) is West Hams match against Millwall. Anybody got a tip or tips where I could possible grab the match??? would really appreciate any info. Reckon if the Park is packed ( and believe me I,m hoping )then it,s a done deal pompey to win with a least a 2goal lead Ref ., Appy v Arry, arry was a wheeler and dealer brown envelopes and bungs, good in knowledge of footy and also a fair motivator, but Appy top arry by a mile, and will go on to become a real TOP manager in english football, the guys a straight up no nonsense type, something that is failing elsewhere in english leagues, the only other I can think of in the same vein is Paul Lambert wishing the team and all the fans all the best for tomorrow.
chimonkey
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:44 PMPOST 18...LHOBSON....your figures are wrong i think, Haven't seen official news of how many have been sold since yesterday morning. I have just been on the eticketing on Pompeys website and totalled up the scores on the doors...excluding the Milton End (3,206 seats, which is listed as unavaliable) there is still 2,550 seats left for sale. South Stand Lower has sold out. So, as it stands, tomorrows attendance is 15,244!! So far....PUP. KEEP THE FAITH.
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