Portsmouth's future remains uncertain after lead bidder Balram Chanrai withdrew his offer for the club.
His Portpin company had gone as far as having a CVA offer accepted, but they say they are withdrawing after a lack of fan support for their bid and the £12million it will cost them in settling player contracts. Their statement also takes a swipe at the Administrators, who they had previously challenged to cut their fees as everyone else had to accept only a small percentage of what was owed.
The only bid remaining is from the Supporters Trust, who will need Chanrai to wipe out £14.25million of his debt in their deal. The statement says Portpin will 'assist' the Trust, but it is currently unclear how far that assistance will stretch.
With the League season just three days away, Pompey have no senior players and had to field 14 teenagers, their coach, and a keeper that was playing in the Evo-Stik League last term as they lost 3-0 at Plymouth.
Earlier this week, manager Michael Appleton told the press that relegation from League One was 'without any doubt' after Chanrai told him his budget for the coming season would be £1.5million rather than the £4million previously agreed.