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Pompey wage bill set to be halved

Administrator Andrew Andronikou wants Avram Grant to lead the club to happier times © Getty Images

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Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou has admitted player salaries will need to be significantly reduced next season, with in the region of £30 million needing to come off the wage bill.

Andronikou's latest revelations come as the club desperately seeks to cut costs as it looks to exit administration.

He told the Observer: "I've got to adjust the overheads from a Premier League club to a Championship club. The biggest overheads are player wages. I have to reduce those. The projected turnover for this club next year is £22-25 million. An accepted ratio of wages is 50-60% of turnover. At moment the wage bill is £45 million, so that's my biggest task."

However, there was some good news for Pompey fans as Andronikou backed manager Avram Grant to revive the club's fortunes next season.

It was expected that Grant would leave as part of the ongoing cost cutting measures but now Andronikou claims that he wants the Israeli coach to lead the club in the Championship as they look to bounce back into the top flight at the first attempt.

"Hopefully, Avram will commit to the club to continue as manager. He has done a wonderful job this season, and if he does stay on it would be great for stability. That's what is needed now - stability," he added.

It is unclear whether Grant would be prepared to manage in the Championship, and there is no doubt that his reputation has been enhanced during a torrid spell on the south coast. It could be that another Premier League club will move for him in the close season. Hull made an approach after "sacking" Phil Brown earlier this month but it was rebuffed.

Andronikou has again explained that most of the playing staff will be moved on and it is likely a team of free transfers will replace them.

One player who will not play for the club again is Aruna Dindane, with reports suggesting that Pompey will have to pay his parent club, Lens, £4 million if he makes another appearance.

Portsmouth have permission to sell players outside of the transfer window but at present there has been no movement.

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