London – Former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has said he will do all he can to save the embattled club from going out of business.
The League One outfit are facing a deadline of August 10 by administrator Trevor Birch to have their finances in order or face going out of business.
Redknapp, who spent five seasons at Fratton Park between 2002 and 2008 culminating in the club's FA Cup win in 2008, said he would speak to Nwankwo Kanu, who has lodged a claim for £3million in pay, to see if he can persuade the striker to compromise with the club.
“I will be ringing Kanu today to see if there is anything I can do,” he said.
“I signed him for Portsmouth on a one-year contract and Tony Adams told me: 'You must be mad, he is finished'. Six years later, he is still there.”
Defender Tal Ben Haim is also owed a similar amount in wages and Redknapp added: “In the case of Tal Ben Haim, if players have a contract and are owed money, you can see why they think they should get it. But if the club closes down they won't get a penny. They need to think hard about that.”
“Portsmouth has got to be saved. It's a great club with great traditions,” the 65-year-old continued, “It would be a disaster if this club went out of business.
“It has great fans to the extent that, if you live in Portsmouth, you are a Portsmouth supporter. If you walk around in that town, you don't see people wearing Manchester United or Arsenal shirts.
“It is soul-destroying to see them in this predicament, and there must be a group of people out there or someone who could take over the club so cheaply and save them.
“I would love to see someone do that. Surely it cannot happen that Portsmouth go out of business. If someone did come in, the club could be resurrected quickly. It wouldn't take a lot to get it going again.” – Sapa-AFP