Former Portsmouth player and manager Steve Claridge said outside Fratton Park: ''This day is one of disappointment and relief. It's tinged with both as it could have been a lot better but it could have been a lot worse.

''They are not out of the woods yet. If the creditors don't agree then Portsmouth will be liquidated, but it rarely comes to that. It's better to have something than nothing at all.

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''I do not think this is bad for the Premier League, it's bad for Portsmouth. And this is not the first time it has happened. Real Madrid were bailed out by the government over there a few years back. The only problem with Pompey was that there was no safety net.

''I have spoken to a few of the players and staff who are worried about their jobs. Undoubtedly there are going to be redundancies, the club cannot haemorrhage money like it has without making cuts.

''The club will survive. Someone will buy this club.''