South Africa deal ‘could be done today’

PORTSMOUTH chief executive Peter Storrie is hopeful that a South African consortium will complete a deal to buy the cash-strapped south-coast club today.

The Premier League strugglers desperately need to find a buyer before next month’s date with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill.

Storrie said: “At the end of the day we need to have it from the bank, we need to see that the funds are there and they can take it forward. We need to see it, the Premier League need to see it, everybody needs to see that there are funds there.

“The bank information will come through their lawyers, proof of funds from their banks to (owner) Balram Chainrai’s lawyers and if that happens the phone call will come and we will be all systems go, but at this moment it is out of our hands and in the South African group’s hands.”

Storrie admitted he was slightly sceptical of the move following the takeovers by Sulaiman Al Fahim and Ali Al Faraj, where neither had the capital to take the club forward.

“I would hope (the deal goes through) but you never know for sure. We all have to take responsibility for the situation. But we are all employees of this club and you can only go by what people have told you.”

Storrie was keen to reassure fans that should a deal not be completed today, the club do have other options available.

He continued: “We have other irons in the fire. There is another group, not as advanced as the South African group, but they could be very quickly. It’s not dead until it’s dead is my philosophy in life and we will work through the next few days to keep the club alive.”

Chainrai’s spokesman, Phil Hall, sounded a more cautious view. He said: “There has got be an end to all this speculation. Nothing will be done until the funds are in place. Until we see proof of funds there will be no move forwards.”