Portsmouth seeking new investment
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Your support makes all the difference.Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has been asked by owner Ali Al Faraj to find investors interested in putting money into the club.
Storrie is confident of finding outside investment to bring to Fratton Park during a season in which they have been surrounded by financial uncertainty, with staff twice being paid late and the club being moved to issue a statement earlier this month denying they were on the brink of administration.
"I have already had meetings with people in Australia and Hong Kong and we will see how that develops," Storrie told The News. "We are still talking to several people and there will be more meetings over the next week and into the New Year.
"Ali wants what is best for this football club and he has asked me to do this. He is very keen for additional investment into the club and I am hoping things can happen.
"I am now concentrating on that. I have done it before with both Sulaiman Al Fahim and then Ali being brought on board. Now I am trying to do it again and will continue to work hard on that task for the good of this club.
"I am doing everything possible to help, I can assure the fans of that, and hopefully there will be some positive news. At this moment in time, I cannot guarantee one way or the other whether an investor will be found. It would not be right for me to speculate. However, I am optimistic."
There is optimism on the pitch too after the victory over Liverpool at the weekend, igniting hopes of Barclays Premier League survival. Next they travel to West Ham on Boxing Day.
Frederic Piquionne, who scored against Rafael Benitez's men, said: "Now we have an important match against West Ham and we have got to take three points there if we are to stay in the Premier League.
"We have to keep trying and putting in good performances."
Pompey boss Avram Grant is set to meet England boss Fabio Capello this week and could discuss the fitness of David James, who is currently struggling with a calf problem.
"I don't know if we will talk about David but I think there is no doubt that he is the best English goalkeeper," Grant said. "With respect to the others, he's the best English goalkeeper and if he'll be fit I'm sure he'll be number one.
"I won't tell Fabio what team to pick and I don't think he'd tell me what team to pick."
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