Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton admits that he’s concerned that the Blues may make renewed overtures for their trio of Pompey targets - keeper Stephen Henderson, centre-half Jason Pearce and midfielder or defender Joel Ward - with Football League clubs able to sign players on ‘emergency’ loans from today. Town had offers accepted for Henderson and Ward on the final day of the transfer window but with the deals breaking down over personal terms, while the Blues were unable to agree a fee for Pearce.
Appleton says that with Portsmouth’s financial crisis appearing no nearer a resolution — the players still haven’t been paid for January — he continues to fear losing players: "You are going to be just as concerned as January with the opening of the loan window.
"I would imagine — I don’t know but I would imagine — there were plenty of people there last night [at Pompey’s 1-0 defeat at Birmingham] having their eye on a few of our players. You would expect that because people know the situation we are in.”
Last week, Blues boss Paul Jewell didn’t rule out further moves for the trio, presumably loans becoming permanent deals in the summer, although not unless Ward and Henderson reduce their "excessive” contract demands.
Appleton says he will have to plan for possible exits: "Ipswich might come back in but if that is the case, we just have to use a contingency plan in terms of having players ready to get on loan from other football clubs.”
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