Appy fears another raid for his Pompey stars
Michael Appleton fears fresh bids will come in for the likes of Jason Pearce, left, now the emergency loan window has opened
Michael Appleton fears he faces another fight to hang on to his star players after the emergency loan window opened today.
For the next seven weeks, Football League clubs are allowed to recruit players on loan.
It is set to spark plenty more business outside of the Premier League as teams seek to strengthen their squads.
For Pompey, it again raises the possibility of rival Championship sides coming in for their players.
Ipswich manager Paul Jewell has already hinted he may return for previous targets Joel Ward and Stephen Henderson.
The Tractor Boys were also among several clubs to have bids knocked back for Jason Pearce on transfer deadline day.
During the emergency loan window, clubs can agree to take a player on loan and then sign him permanently in the summer, a fund-raising route which could appeal to cash-strapped Pompey.
And Appleton is aware he has another battle to negotiate as he looks to keep his best players at Fratton Park.
After last night’s 1-0 loss at Birmingham, the Pompey boss said: ‘You are going to be just as concerned as January with the opening of the loan window.
‘I would imagine – I don’t know but I would imagine – there were plenty of people there last night having their eye on a few of our players.
‘You would expect that because people know the situation we are in.
‘From our point of view, we will try to be guarded in terms of me keeping the players concentrated on what they’re doing rather than worrying about what other clubs are interested in them and whether they are going to end up elsewhere.
‘The way we have to look at it is, until someone comes in with offers for our players, then we’re just going to work every day with the 17 players I’ve got at the minute.
‘Ipswich might come back in but if that is the case, we just have to use a contingency plan in terms of having players ready to get on loan from other football clubs.
‘If we do lose three players, surely the Football League aren’t going to allow us have 12 or 13 players in our squad?’
One such loan target remains George Thorne.
Yet Appleton has been informed the West Bromwich Albion midfielder cannot return to the Blues until a player leaves Fratton.
That is despite Ryan Williams’ transfer deadline day departure to Fulham.
Appleton added: ‘George is a player we would love to have back and would have loved to have had back over the past six weeks or so.
‘But as far as I am aware, we are still in a position where unless we lose a player we can’t bring anyone in.
‘The likelihood of George coming back to Portsmouth is going to rely on someone leaving us – but we can’t afford anyone to leave us.
‘We will see but it is a Catch 22 situation.’
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Comments
There are 76 comments to this article
Page 1 of 6
ozinaus
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:45 AMComment removed by moderator
Plymouth Graham
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:17 AMonce BC arrives, he will take over as official owner, and proceed to flog every player he can-albeit loans with a fee with view to end of season sales ala Tommy Smith ( i think i recall that deal correctly) I am saddened by this, and it is beginning to rank with the Liverpool semi final loss, because i really think that with MA and a few additions we could have made the Play-offs..sadly we will see the remnants of this squad doing well at other clubs like Anderton and Beresford from that semi final sqaud once it was busted up... Balou Chanrai ??? sGaydamak???why does'nt some one investigate this....Panorama ...or SUnday Mirror etc insrad of wasting pages of print on ...well whatever brain numbing articles they have each week
westendsaint
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:08 AMAs a Portsmouith citizen ( & before some loudmouth spouts otherwise) I am NOT a Southampton fan nor do I have any particular interest in football, I do not understand why you people think the rest of the UK owes you a football club to enact your absurb obsession. Believe it or not, there are more important things in this life & you need to get one. Furthermore, I do not understand why you think abusing another club (rivals are they called) assists your cause in any way) It is juvenile to say the least. You have happily sat back for years watching a business that has at best been poorly run & at worst a vehicle for money laundering etc. Hasn,t bothered you too much while your team was winning. Any suggestion that HMCR, Sport UK or other taxpayers should come to the rescue is absurd. You would no doubt be in the same position in 3 yrs anyway
deliverance1975
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:23 AM#68 probably the same 450 that went to Brum.
pedant
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:33 PMBrand me as an apologist for the FA and the FL if you like but let`s have a little competition here. What do you think the Fit and Proper test should be? Rank these in ascending and descending order, see what you think are realistic and think about the clubs where the buyers have ticked all the boxes:- Loads of money Succesful businessman Never been convicted of anything Never accused of Human Rights abuses Not connected with an Icelandic (insert country as appropriate) that might or might not go bust in 5 to 10 years) No intention to load debt on the club No intention to split club into separate businesses Dodgy friends (can you actually prove it? Is it relevant?) Proven interest in football Lifelong Club supporter Attends every game Now think Blackburn and Wolves (lots of ticks) Now think Darlington ( Apparently ticks everything) Chelsea? Man Utd? West Ham? Anyone have a crystal ball? Not sure the FA and the FL have one. Good game!
PapaBlue
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:55 PMClearly no-one is feeding the NEWS a story now from Pompey so how about they go and do some investigative journalism. . Where is Chainrai? 10 flights from Hong Kong have arrived at Heathrow so far this week. If he is going to have any time to do any work, he will need to be here before Friday morning surely? They must have a contact that can tell them if Chainrai is on his way
BlueBobs
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:31 PM£8mil HRMC spent chasing £180,000?? How can Cameron allow them to waste £8mil then sit by and watch them shut down a Football club steeped in history and community support! Pack the Park and lets show the millions watching the telly who we are..TEAR INTO THE HRMC WITH 90 MINS OF CHANTING AND GET THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BACKING US.... PTID
captvirgilhilts1
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:27 PMComment removed by moderator
Tomlakes
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:05 PMNow who's going to Blackpool this weekend to see the G8 Portsmouth FC with the best footballing History on the South Coast....
On the up
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:04 PMCan understand Woodsy279 point, at least there is a positive for Hampshire football. Apparently there was 23500 for stains cup game last night, all dressed in plastic red, disguised as seats, and giving thier team the normal st fairies support. The rest of the ground was quiet and motionless.
blue bob
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:37 PMI expect DL is still trying hard to get a rich owner, probably on a sunbed on a beach in Dubai, with a pina calada in one hand & his mobile in the other, hence no appearance by him recently.
spencerc
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:34 PMWoodsy go jump off a motorway bridge and do us all a favour!!! This sorry club has more trophys than you'll ever dream of you brain dead in bred filth
bluelagoon
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:32 PM61 - "There is only one Harry Redknapp". Yes, thank goodness there is only one...
woodsy279
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:20 PM12 days left :) I'm. More excited waitin for the 20th then I was waiting for Christmas day.....Pompey goin down with no money in the bank ha ha ha ha ha and u deluded lot seem more interested in dissing saints for losin last nite in a cup game.....I really hope ur plan b comes into action I will be doin cartwheels when this sorry excuse of a club has been liquidated
Captain La
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:39 PM@50 You owe me a new keyboard Harry 'cos I spat my beer over it when I read " If he won't speak because he can't speak then he should say so." Brilliant
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