Pompey chief defends Johnson sale
Peter Storrie has defended the decision to cash-in on Glen Johnson.
The Pompey full-back is poised for an 18m switch to either Liverpool or Chelsea – just six months into a new contract.
It's a potential deal which has upset some supporters, who have accused Pompey of lacking ambition by selling the England international.
With Sulaiman Al Fahim's takeover also nearing completion, the sale of the star player is seen among some quarters as a massive backward step.
Yet Storrie insists the club have been left with no choice after sticking to a verbal agreement made with Johnson when he penned a fresh four-and-a-half year deal in January.
That was to let the 24-year-old leave if a club who have qualified for the Champions League come in for him.
The player himself is keen to leave Fratton Park to play in the prestigious European competition and enhance his international chances with the World Cup taking place next year.
And with a massive profit on a player recruited for just 4m from Chelsea two years ago, Blues' executive chairman Storrie believes it is the right thing to do.
He said: 'How can you question the sale of a player to a club with Champions League football on offer?
'We can't compete with that. Liverpool and Chelsea can offer Glen things we can't.
'Of course we don't want to lose him and I know for a fact Glen is happy here.
'But when a top-four club with Champ-ions League football comes knocking it is very, very difficult.
'When he signed his new contract he asked us if we would give him permission to talk to a Champions League club if they should come in for him.
'This was a verbal agreement and we have honoured that.
'Let's remember, this is a big year for Glen with it being the World Cup at the end of it.
'He wants to cement his England place and he feels moving to a top-four club can help him do that.
'We want to keep him, he was happy to be here – that's why he signed a new contract – but now he has the chance of Champions League football and he wants to go.
'That has nothing to do with our ambition as a club.'
Johnson has spent the weekend agonising over his destination after been given permission to talk to both Liverpool and Chelsea.
Either way, the right-back will go with Storrie's blessing after 100 appearances and four goals for the Blues.
More importantly, though, Johnson played a big role in keeping Pompey in the top flight last season, his performances seeing him scoop a large number of player-of-the-season awards.
Storrie added: 'Glen has been a tremendous player for this football club and all we can now do is wish him all the best.
'He's a great lad who is maturing into a quality footballer.
'All we can do is try to get the biggest fee possible for him.
'That's my job – and I believe the offers on the table represent very good fees for us.'
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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