Andronikou slams licence decision

Portsmouth's administrator Andrew Andronikou has condemned the Football Association and Premier League decision to block the club's entry into next season's Europa League as "a shambles".

A joint statement from the two bodies said they would not consider a late application from Portsmouth for a UEFA club licence due to their financial problems. However, Andronikou said Portsmouth are refusing to accept defeat and would go to UEFA to try to gain a place in the competition.

"We are very disappointed all round," Andronikou told Press Association Sport.

"Last week they were asking us to prepare an application and now they are saying they won't consider one, but that's not going to deter us.

"I know our chances are pretty remote if the Premier League and FA say they won't consider it but we are still going to make our case and explore all possibilities for the club.

"We will go to UEFA and explore every avenue before we admit defeat.

"We are still a member of the Premier League for a few more weeks at least and they should be championing us.

"I think it's quite a shambles. There are rules and regulations but there is also football protocol and the way they have approached this subject means they must have made a significant U-turn in the last 24 hours."

Andronikou said he only found out about the decision from watching television.

He added: "I hadn't heard a dicky bird about it, it was quite surreal."