PETER STORRIE, the Portsmouth chief executive, was yesterday re-arrested as he faced further questioning by City of London Police officers in relation to the ongoing investigation into corruption in football.
Storrie, who was first arrested in November 2007 on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, attended Bishopsgate police station in London, where it is understood that he was informed HM Revenue and Customs would be investigating the possibility of tax-related offences. Storrie, who has been bailed until June, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
A Portsmouth spokesman last night said: “Peter Storrie today attended Bishopsgate police station to answer to bail in furtherance of his arrest in 2007. Storrie has been fully co-operative throughout police investigations which did not involve allegations of corruption or bungs.”
Meanwhile, the Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has strongly backed his club’s decision to sack the club’s manager Tony Adams this week and warned against cutting corners in the search for a replacement. While expressing his frustration at the “ludicrous” and “bizarre” way in which last season’s FA Cup winners have slipped to within one point of the relegation zone.
“You can say we’ve lost Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe and that’s why we are where we are but that’s nonsense,” said James. “This season’s side is fundamentally the same as last -season but we weren’t set up to replicate the success.”
He admitted that frequent mistakes on the pitch meant Portsmouth players bear some responsibility for this season’s woes, but indicated that the primary problem lay with Adams’ inability to communicate effectively as well as his team selection and tactics.
“Players don’t pick the team,” he said. “Pick the team right and you’ll get the right results.” James revealed that Adams shared similarities with his predecessor, Harry Redknapp, but none of the qualities.
Under Harry you also didn’t know the team selection until the day of the match and you also wouldn’t do much work on such-and-such, but Harry had an idiosyncratic way of getting the team to perform. Just putting an arm around you, telling you you’re the best in the world.”
Rumours of player discontent with Adams had been circulating long before the manager’s dismissal, and James was even reported to have been involved in a “ruck” with him following the 3-1 defeat at Fulham two weeks ago. The goalkeeper confirmed those reports and suggested that it was the manager’s lack of leadership that had provoked his reaction.
Portsmouth will be managed against Manchester City today by the club’s director of youth operations, Paul Hart, who will be assisted by the former Manchester United and England number two Brian Kidd. The latter’s arrival at the club has fuelled speculation that the next full-time manager will be Sven-Goran Eriksson, who hired Kidd as his number two at the start of his reign as England manager.
Guardian Service
