Pompey given FA Cup lifeline

It was the second major boost for the cash-strapped south-coast club in a matter of hours on Thursday.

Their battle for survival in the High Court was alleviated when Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs accepted the club's move into administration.

Pompey escaped being wound up after HMRC abandoned their claim that Pompey owner Balram Chainrai did not have the legal right to put the club into administration.

HMRC's decision to drop their case was just the boost Portsmouth had been looking for after slashing 85 Fratton Park jobs on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the club said: "The Revenue has accepted the administration is valid."

But Portsmouth, already rock-bottom of the Premier League, now face a nine-point deduction for entering into administration.

However, with their FA Cup semi-final against Fulham or Tottenham looming, Andronikou pledged no players will be leaving the club before the Wembley showdown.

Some members of manager Avram Grant's staff were included in the staff cull, although none of them were high-profile.

Players cannot be made redundant due to protection afforded to them by the Professional Footballers Association.

But the cancellation of loans to save on wages is a consideration, with Pompey having six temporary signings on their books.

"Selling players is an option but first I need to broach the subject with the Premier League," said Andronikou. "I need their concession.

"As an alternative from looking at the Premier League advancing TV money, I suggested to them to possibly open the window to allow me to sell two players on a loan-back."