Broken Hart resigned to cash constraints

PAUL HART admits he will receive little of the £50 million owner Sulaiman Al Fahim is planning to inject into Portsmouth.

Fratton Park is gripped by financial uncertainty amid speculation Pompey could become the first Premier League club to enter administration.

Al Fahim, who completed his takeover last month, has dismissed the doomsday scenario and promised to invest heavily over the coming weeks to ease the crisis.

The uncertainty over Peter Storrie’s future had added sub-plot with the chief executive ready to resign unless he was reassured over the club’s financial position.

Those fears have eased after Storrie indicated yesterday he will stay, giving his full backing to the beleaguered Hart in the process.

Amid the boardroom confusion, Pompey have been busy producing the worst start to a season in Premier League history and the worst in the top flight for 79 years.

But while their 1-0 defeat by Everton at Fratton Park on Saturday made it seven games without a point, Hart is confident he has the players to turn the corner.

“A lot has happened to the club financially over the last 12 months,” he said. “I’m a realist and wouldn’t for one minute think I’ll have £50million to spend.

“The club is in need of refinancing, everybody knows it, but I should get something. We haven’t spent a penny yet but I’m delighted with this bunch of players.

“I believe these players can get the club out of this position. I really try not to bring what’s happening at the club into the dressing room.

“I’m sure the players read the papers and if they want to ask me questions they can do so, but it doesn’t interrupt their focus. It certainly doesn’t interrupt mine.”

Hart’s faith in a hastily-assembled squad containing signings that have provoked derision from critics was fully justified on Saturday’s evidence.

Had they buried one of the countless opportunities they created in a pulsating encounter, Portsmouth would have been celebrating a precious first victory.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard was in fine form while some desperate defending also kept them at bay, but Aaron Mokoena and Tal Ben Haim were guilty of missing gilt-edged chances.

Everton also had their moments, the highlight of which saw Louis Saha show tremendous control of a 40-yard cross, beating Younes Kaboul in the process, before expertly dispatching the ball past David James.

It was a superb finish, the Frenchman’s seventh of the season, but Pompey deserved at least a point.

The result stretched Everton’s winning run to four matches, but Moyes knows only too well how precarious life at the wrong end of the Premier League can be.

“The key in this situation is for Portsmouth to support the manager and players,” he said. “We’ve been in the bottom and we’re not far off it now. More than anything Portsmouth need some stability.”

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 7: No complaints from either manager suggests a solid afternoon’s work.

MATCH RATING: *** Pompey were very unlucky, but there is already a doomed air around Fratton Park.