Grant laments uncertainty

Pompey chief wants definitive answers

By James Dall   Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Grant laments uncertainty

Grant: Frustrated

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Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has admitted the club's lingering nine-point deduction is affecting his players.

Pompey were 2-1 losers against Birmingham on Tuesday to leave them five points adrift of Premier League safety.

However, a nine-point penalty appears on the horizon as a repercussion of the club going into administration, a scenario that would all-but condemn them to Championship football.

Grant said: "The players want to win on the pitch. But of course when you always hear about the nine points, you know you cannot do anything.

"Although the Premier League has yet to take the points away, of course it has an effect.

"When you have a target it is more easy. This situation is not easy.

"We need to know for sure what is happening. Of course this affects the players, who are doing their best to win each game.

"I respect the rules, but I will say it again: the club's future should be decided on the pitch."

Reflecting on the result against Birmingham, who Pompey beat in the FA Cup at the weekend, Grant pointed to a lack of urgency from his charges.

He said: "The result was disappointing. Today we did not play with the energy from the last game.

"We started well but they scored from the first attack and we did not respond well."