Portsmouth coach dares Kanu, others

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Monday, July 16th, 2012

PORTMOUTH manager, said Nigerian international Kanu Nwankwo can go ahead and sue the club even as he insists on dropping all the club’s senior players from the team.

There had been reports that the former Nigeria striker could sue the club for breach of contract, but Appleton says he is leaving that for administrator Trevor Birch to deal with.

“It’s not for me to get involved in,” said Appleton.

“That’s for Kanu, his solicitor and Trevor Birch to sort out. If that’s the path he wants to go down, then so be it.”

Appleton led Portsmouth to Spain for their pre-season tour without any of the club’s senior professionals as the Pompeys travelled with a squad of trialists and youngsters for some warm-weather training and friendlies against Gibraltar and Brighton.

Pompey have eight senior players and need them all to leave to help exit administration and build a new squad and Appleton is hopeful some of them will have left before he returns.

“None of the senior players who were here last season will be travelling to Spain,” Appleton told BBC Radio Solent.

Tal Ben Haim, Greg Halford, Erik Huseklepp, Dave Kitson, Liam Lawrence, David Norris, Luke Varney, Kanu Nwankwo will have to leave according to the manager as the club cannot afford to keep them.

Last week Pompey were told they would start next season in League One on -10 points and Appleton admitted it was a further blow in his attempt to attract new players to the club.

“It doesn’t help,” he said.

-Tribunewp_posts