THE MAN in charge of crisis hit Pompey says he is doubtful the club will make the start of the season - unless more senior players leave.

Trevor Birch says that more senior players need to leave, including Liam Lawrence, Greg Halford and David Norris.

Currently, Nwanko Kanu is in dispute with the club over money he is entitled to along with Tal Ben Haim and Dave Kitson.

The players are attracting little interest from other clubs, meaning that if the club is to get the wage bill down it will have to come to a deal with the senior squad members.

If the club was to make the players redundant, like it has done non-playing staff such as office workers, it would not be given a golden share and would not be allowed to enter the Football League.

However, potential buyers Portpin and the Pompey Supporters' Trust will not buy the club whilst the big wage earners are still on the books.

If the impasse remains, Mr Birch will be left with no option but to liquidate the company and the football club.

Mr Birch said: "We are just not making quick progress and at this moment in time I am doubtful we will start the season.

"We are having trouble with more or less all the players. A lot of them are not prepared to take any compromise deal over a period of time."

Meanwhile, the club has begun consulting with staff about yet another round of redundancies.