Premier League - Crouch demands Pompey solution

Eurosport - Sun, 14 Jun 14:08:00 2009

Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch has called for the uncertainty surrounding the club to be cleared up before he commits his future to Fratton Park.

2008-2009 Portsmouth Peter Crouch - 0

Property billionaire Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim is close to taking over at the south coast club with due diligence set to be completed next month.

But Portsmouth had to issue a statement denying former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is involved in the deal.

"There are 15 players out of contract at the end of the season - no one knows who the manager is, we don't even know who the owner is to be honest. So anyone who is at the club wants reassurances about what is going to happen in the summer," the England striker said in the News of the World. "And I'll certainly be asking. I need to find out."

The position of Paul Hart, the caretaker manager of the second half of last season, is uncertain, while right-back Glen Johnson could be the latest big-name player to leave the club.

Crouch added: "I'm really disappointed to be honest. We had Harry Redknapp, Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra were there, we were in Europe and there were ambitions for the club really going forward. Instead it has taken a backward step.

"I've got to look at it in the summer. We need some players, without a doubt.

"That's plain for everyone to see. Everybody who is a Portsmouth player wants to find out what is going on. Hopefully, things can turn around with prospective new owners. We need to strengthen the side. But I've no idea about the new owners."

Crouch admitted his hopes of playing for England at next year's World Cup depended on him having a successful domestic season.

He said: "If I'm going to have a chance of playing for England, I need to be playing well.

"What I don't need is to be fighting relegation."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 6 of 6

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  1. crouch`s ability is proven, those critics who think­ they know anything about football only prove their­ ignorance of the sport.

    From crichton.stuart, on Thu 18 Jun 2:15PM

  2. Crouch is right. As a Pompey fan, we need to know who­ will own the club and, more importantly, who the boss­ will be. They need to be installed asap and they need­ to start buying players and renewing the contracts of­ important players like Crouch and Glen Johnson. ­ Otherwise, a darker season awaits us next year. PLAY­ UP POMPEY.

    From SteveW, on Tue 16 Jun 12:56PM

  3. Don't get me started on Nugent waste of £6M

    From Karl, on Mon 15 Jun 8:54AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who the hell does Crouch think he is? He is a not very­ good striker in a club that is going through massive­ change and he seems to think tht he is party to the big­ business tht is happening. I say shut up crouch, get on­ with you job, which is scoring goal's which in any­ case you are not that good at and leave the business­ issues to people who know what they are doing.

    From Karl, on Mon 15 Jun 8:47AM

  5. lanegold, what on earth are you talking about? His­ track record is proven in the premiership and­ internationally. He continued to score goals at­ Portsmouth even though he was surrounded by a poor­ team. I think you might be getting Crouch and Nuggent­ mixed up here.

    From James, on Sun 14 Jun 2:58PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    this is (almost) funny. the most embarassing player­ currently considered for england. from his crappy­ "dancing" to his ungainly movement and­ erratic ball-control - the tallest player on the park­ who, for all that, cannot head the ball. it's time­ for england to dispense with his "services"­ for good. talk of the goals he has scored omits to­ mention the quality of the opposition he scored against­ (poor). he's suited to the championship or maybe­ league one, but surely not the premiership and­ definitely not the international stage.

    From lanegold, on Sun 14 Jun 2:44PM
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