体坛英语新闻：Portsmouth delay players' salaries

LONDON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Crisis-laden Premier League bottom club Portsmouth said Thursday their players' December salaries would not be paid until Jan. 5.

    "Portsmouth Football Club expects to pay their first team squad's December salaries on Tuesday, January 5," said a club statement.

    "The club has been speaking to the Professional Footballers' Association and the players have been informed.

    "The club has been assured of receipt of funds by Tuesday and the owner (Ali Al-Faraj) and board have been working hard on resolving the short-term delay."

    This is the third time this season Portsmouth has been unable to pay players' wages on time after similar delays in September and November.

    Portmouth are in trouble both on and off the field and have to head into 2010 four points adrift at the bottom of the table following Wednesday's 4-1 home defeat by Arsenal at Fratton Park.

    British tax authorities are threatening to take legal action against Portsmouth in respect to unpaid tax bill worth a reported 3.5 million pounds, although Pompey officials have denied they have been served with a formal, winding-up order by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

    Meanwhile, former Portsmouth owner Sacha Gayadamak, according to a report in Thursday's Guardian newspaper, is owed at least 28 million pounds by the club.

    Current manager Avram Grant cannot, as yet, look forward to bolstering the squad during the January transfer window as Portsmouth remains subject to a Premier League transfer embargo over issues of unpaid transfer fees.

    Portsmouth have twice changed hands this season with Saudi Arabian businessman Faraj taking over from Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who was only in charge for a matter of weeks after protracted takeover talks with Gaydamak.

    Club chief executive Peter Storrie was charged with tax evasion by HMRC over allegations he concealed a signing-on fee for Amdy Faye.