Portsmouth’s financial woes continue to overshadow their on-field performances, which recently included a hard-earned point at home to West Ham and a relatively money-spinning FA Cup win over Sunderland, setting up a fifth round tie at bitter South Coast rivals Southampton.

The cash-strapped Fratton Park outfit had their transfer embargo partially lifted to allow manager Avram Grant to bring in loan players or free transfers before the January transfer window closes next Tuesday.

 

However, this came in the wake of their failed appeal against a winding-up petition served by the tax authorities. Portsmouth face a High Court hearing on February 11^th.

But the urgent need to sell players has caused a boardroom rift with Chief Executive Peter Storrie claiming he is being sidelined as transfer talks go on without his knowledge, and Grant also being kept in the dark about player sales.

The club were further embarrassed when their website became temporarily unavailable due to unpaid bills. Staff received an email warning them of possible further problems with their salary payments.

And former captain Sol Campbell, who this week made an EPL comeback with former club Arsenal, is suing Pompey for £1.7m unpaid image rights fees and bonuses.

Amid all the turmoil, Portsmouth managed to add to their squad this week signing striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie on loan until the end of the season from Spartak Moscow.

But the proposed departures of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Younes Kaboul to Tottenham have caused controversy with reports suggesting that Pompey’s financial “adviser”, the convicted fraudster chief Daniel Azougy brokered the deals without Storrie’s or Grant’s knowledge.

Storrie claims that his position has “in many ways” become untenable, adding: “I didn’t know anything about (this) until I came into the office. Surely, let the experts get involved in getting the right price if someone has to go.”

Grant will take charge of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City but a club insider said: “Avram is not a quitter but he has had enough.”

Pompey’s court battles could yet the see the club wound-up, having failed in their appeal against HMRC’s pre-Christmas winding-up petition.

Portsmouth had claimed the VAT being sought was up to £7.5m too much. But an official court statement said: “Mr Justice Newey dismissed an application from (Portsmouth) for a winding-up petition to be struck out. A further hearing to consider (the) petition will take place in due course.”

Former captain Campbell is “seeking recovery” of £1.67m. A High Court writ claims Pompey agreed to pay Campbell £30,000-per-week during the last two years of his contract, which expired last June, in exchange for allowing the club to use his image for various commercial purposes.

Portsmouth’s web-site also fell temporary victims to the club’s financial situation, when it was briefly shut down after they missed a contracted payment to the company which maintains the site.

A new payment schedule with the company, Juicy, was hastily agreed, and the web-site returned within a few hours.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth’s “owner” Ali Al-Faraj remains to be seen.