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Clubs voice concern over Pompey sale plan

Adam Pearson believes Portsmouth's players should only be sold in Europe © Getty Images

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Hull City and West Ham have both voiced their concerns over proposals that would grant Portsmouth permission to sell their players outside of the transfer window in order to salvage the club's financial situation.

It emerged on Thursday that Portsmouth have asked the Premier League, FA and FIFA to allow them to immediately conduct player sales as they seek to raise £4 million and help keep the club afloat ahead of their winding-up hearing at the High Court on March 1.

FIFA has confirmed receipt of the appeal and the respective governing bodies will now examine the repercussions of granting such an unusual request, with players such as Nadir Belhadj, Kevin-Prince Boateng and David James amongst those likely to be made available.

Hull chairman Adam Pearson is concerned that his club's rivals in the Premier League table could gain an unfair advantage by recruiting a new player from Fratton Park and believes that Portsmouth should only be given permission to sell to clubs abroad.

"A lot of our supporters will be asking questions if somebody goes from Portsmouth to the likes of Wigan and scores a goal against us," Pearson told the Independent. "We have big games coming up against Burnley and Wigan before the end of the season. I think the [Portsmouth] players should be allowed to be sold, but into Europe.

"If Portsmouth are going to face a points sanction then I suppose we will have to accept it but it is a stark reminder that things have to be done properly. We are battling to sort our club out and get out finances in order but we could not strengthen in January."

West Ham co-owner David Gold is also concerned that the proposal could damage the integrity of the Premier League, although he is open to discussing the plan if it is proven to be a "last resort" that would save Portsmouth from extinction.

If Portsmouth are declared insolvent and wound up, then all their previous results will be null and void, meaning West Ham would lose four points and drop into the relegation zone.

"We have no duty to assist Portsmouth's owners or chief executive [Peter Storrie], who played their part on the current situation, but I feel sympathy for the fans and for that reason we should consider helping," Gold said.

"But if this measure is being considered simply as a means of helping Portsmouth to avoid administration then I wouldn't support it at all. I don't have sympathy for a badly run club that faces administration. We're in a league that operates on survival of the fittest. Nobody offered to help Crystal Palace recently or so many others over the years in this way to stay out of administration.

"Above all else we need to protect the integrity of our league, and allowing Portsmouth to sell their players outside the normal window in a way that other clubs are not allowed to do isn't protecting that integrity. The issue isn't about preventing Portsmouth raising money. I would have no problem, for example, if they were allowed to pre-sell players on the understanding they couldn't play in the league until after the next transfer window.

"I do have a problem with a club being able to buy those players and gain an advantage over a competitor. I wouldn't want a competitor buying a player not usually available to them to help them stay up, and neither would my club's rivals want West Ham doing that. A principle needs upholding."

Portsmouth have delivered a statement of affairs to the High Court and face a hearing on March 1 as they fight against a winding-up order issued by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs regarding an unpaid tax bill of £11.7 million.

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