Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is confident of boosting his squad before the transfer window slams shut.
Pompey boss looks to reinforce ranks and get ready for the fight
Portsmouth boss Paul Hart remains confident of boosting his squad before the transfer window slams shut on 1st September.
Pompey have been left depleted after losing the likes of Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Sean Davis this summer.
Hart has little cash at his disposal as the club's takeover saga rumbles on, with owner Alexandre Gaydamak set to sell.
But having lacked a cutting edge in losing their two opening Premier League games, Hart is determined to make sure he has greater strength in depth.
Lens striker Aruna Dindane is on Pompey's wish list and Hart is also targeting Bolton pair Gavin McCann and Danny Shittu.
"Historically, a lot of the action takes place in the final week of the transfer window," he said.
Targets
"We've got our targets and, hopefully, over the next week or so those targets will be in here.
"We're still working on the fact we haven't got any money. Some of our targets from May are still there and some of those targets cost money.
"I think we've got to increase our options all over the park and I would like to bring in one or two players.
"They (Shittu and McCann) are on the list, as is Dindane."
Hart admits Pompey have a fight on their hands to stay in the top flight this season - a far cry from when Harry Redknapp led them to FA Cup glory in 2008 and a first-ever European campaign.
"My brief, I feel, is to keep us in the Premiership," said Hart. "But I'm one of about 12 or 13 other managers that have a similar brief.
"I wouldn't like to paint a black picture - we're all big boys and we know where we are.
"I think we should all know the facts and then everyone can deal with them.
"We have talked about the numbers in the squad - they're low," he added. "There's no point hiding it.
"It is a different club. We had money coming into the club and Harry was a great manager and was winning things.
Change in expectations
"That's fine but this is where we are at. I can't paint a different picture.
"I'll use this analogy - if Roman Abramovich pulled out of Chelsea, they would be a different club. Our owner basically pulled out of this football club nine months to a year ago. It had to change."
Although Pompey have lost both their opening games 1-0, they were beaten by a deflected strike at home to Fulham and a late penalty at Birmingham in midweek.
Hart has therefore seen enough to give cause for optimism and urged everyone at the club to show their mettle.
"I'd like to take the positives out of what we've done in very difficult circumstances," he said.
"We created chances and, in my opinion, we should have won both the games we've played.
"We've also restricted the opposition to minimal chances - David (James) has had probably three saves to make in two games.
"But until we get some new blood in, this is what we'll have to do - graft and be organised.
"It has been universally accepted that it is a difficult time for this football club. You could roll over or you can stand up and fight.
"I think we're going to stand up and fight. The whole club and everybody connected to it are in a fight."
