Avram Grant is close to quitting as Portsmouth
manager after two of his best players were sold behind his back.
Defender Younes Kaboul and keeper Asmir Begovic - man of the match
in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw against West Ham - were sold to Spurs
yesterday for around £6million.
The deal will help Portsmouth pay the players' wage bill, around
£1.75million, on Friday. But Grant was privately fuming as he
believes the south coast side - who travel to wealthy Manchester
City on Sunday - now have no chance of survival.
Indeed, only last month Grant insisted no player would be sold
without his prior approval. Kaboul, 24, and goalkeeper Begovic, 22,
are to reunite with former Pompey boss Harry Redknapp at White Hart
Lane. But Pompey cannot rely on David James as he will be sold to
Stoke for just £1million by Monday's transfer deadline.
The deal is understood to have been agreed by executive director
Mark Jacob and controversial finance chief Danny Azougy to help
raise cash to pay Pompey’s January wage bill.
Chief executive Peter Storrie last night claimed he, too, had
been kept out of the loop along with Grant. Storrie said: "In many
ways our position at the club has become untenable. It makes you
wonder what we are doing here at the moment.
"In my time at the club I have negotiated some expensive deals
in and out and I think I am good at it. "If there is a need to sell
players to keep the club afloat then I think I’m the best person to
get the best fees.
"I did not know anything about these deals until I came into the
office this morning and spoke to Avram. "I was told there were
meetings going on at Spurs.
"Avram is disappointed. He understands that if someone has to be
sold to keep the club going, then so be it. "But we both feel we
could have got a better deal. "I think Begovic is going to be a
fantastic player in the future so to sell him is not the best move
in the world.
"That is the deal that Avram is disappointed with the most." The
sales continue a remarkable exodus of players from the troubled
club, whose website was shut down yesterday because they cannot
afford to run it.
Portsmouth are also in talks with West Ham and Wigan over
Algerian midfielder Nadir Belhadj, while Sporting are interested in
the Algerian midfielder Hassan Yebda and Birmingham are closing in
on the signing of striker Aruna Dindane, recalled from his loan at
Fratton Park by Lens because Pompey cannot afford to keep him.
Storrie added: "Avram came into the club and has a love and
affection for the club but we feel we have been pushed to one side.
"Something has to give and clearly the owners have to decide the
best way forward."
Tottenham are willing to pay £8million to take back Kaboul, but
Pompey still owe £2m from his original switch to Fratton Park.
Spurs are also entitled to a 20 per cent sell on of any fee over
£4m pounds.
