Portsmouth axe 85 staff

Portsmouth is currently under the administration of UHY Hacker Young and spokesman, Andrew Andronikou, revealed the news today.

Andronikou told a news conference: “Today is extremely difficult – there’s always a day in the administration when you have to question whether you like the job you are doing, but it is a necessary job.

“We have unfortunately had to make 85 employees redundant today. The club had in its employment 166 full-time staff, including players, and 154 part-time staff – excluding weekend and matchday staff.

“May I take this opportunity to thank these people for their contributions to the club and wish them well in their future.

“The redundancies were made across all areas. They are the visible cuts we are making. There will be other cuts that you won’t see, but you will see them filter down in the cashflow in the short-to-medium term.

“We’ve had to use the administration to take (staffing) down to a level that I can manage and if unfortunately the club is relegated, it will have to be reviewed again as the overheads won’t fit into a Championship environment.”

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has taken a 40 per cent wage cut.

Andronikou said: “He would like to make it known that he has taken a 40 per cent cut in his basic wage.

“Peter Storrie has tended his resignation, he is working to a timetable. He is still chief executive today. It may very well change. We are in a situation where we are having to adapt to an evolving story.”