Pompey silent on takeover talk

Portsmouth have refused to deny reports of an imminent takeover of the club by the son of a Russian billionaire.

A spokeswoman for the club would not comment on reports that Alexander Gaydamak, the son of financier Arcadi Gaydamak, was prepared to buy the club from chairman Milan Mandaric.

According to the reports, £100m (€146m) will be made available for new players, affording Pompey a financial clout second only in the Barclays Premiership to Chelsea, who are owned by oil billionaire Roman Abramovich.