Varney: We're happy to help

Luke Varney has promised Pompey's players are desperate to resolve their futures to keep the club alive.

The striker insisted he has taken a significant cut in wages to help save the Blues from liquidation.

Varney, who is wanted by Nottingham Forest, vowed he and his team-mates are doing all they can to keep Pompey breathing.

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Administrator Trevor Birch has pinpointed Kanu and Tal Ben Haim as the two players who are proving problematic when it comes to securing compromise agreements.

The need for Birch to quickly reduce the wage bill to allow Pompey to move out of administration has been made clear.

Varney explained he is happy to negotiate a compromise on the two remaining years of his deal but has not heard from anyone at the club.

He said: ‘We want a solution on all fronts.

‘We don’t want to see the club struggling but on the other front we’re not getting paid our wages.

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‘It’s a deferral. We know if the club get liquidated we lose everything we’re owed.

‘We agreed to the first deferral but the second was just put upon us really.

‘We weren’t totally happy with the way that happened but if it protects the longevity of the club we are happy.

‘Trevor knows the lads won’t be leaving unless they are paid what they are owed.

‘It’s not money going forward.

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‘When you leave a club you ask for a bit of the money from the future that is on your contract.

‘But this is money from the past, so the lads are going to want that before they leave.

‘I’ve not heard from anyone from Portsmouth.

‘And I’m sure there is a lot of work to be done before anyone leaves the club.

‘Hopefully it will all be resolved soon and we’ll moved forward.’

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Varney admitted he is aware of interest for his services but has not heard of any concrete moves.

The 29-year-old, who arrived for £750,000 from Derby last summer, remains a target for old boss Steve Cotterill at Forest.

That is a move he would consider but he stated he is happy to report back for pre-season training on July 5 and then see what lies ahead.

Varney said: ‘The last couple of times I’ve moved it didn’t happen until August.

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‘I understand pre-season will be at Portsmouth and I’m prepared to stay for as long they want me. There’s a bit of interest in me.

‘I spoke to Steve (Cotterill) and he said to look after myself.

‘Whether that’s a hint or not, I don’t know.

‘They (Forest) aren’t in great financial shape at the minute.

‘Until their ownership is sorted I don’t know what will happen.

‘If they come in I’d be interested but, at the minute, I’ve just got my eyes on Portsmouth.’