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Trevor Birch has spoken of the need to keep on reducing Pompey's wage bill in order for the bids to buy the club to have a chance of being completed. The administrator believes both Portpin's attempts to take over and that of the Pompey Supporters' Trust will stall unless more of the club's higher earners can be offloaded. Although players like Jason Pearce, Stephen Henderson, Joel Ward and others have been moved on, plenty more on decent pay remain - and cannot continue to do so if the proposed takeover bids are to stay on the table. Luke Varney, David Norris, Liam Lawrence and Erik Huseklepp are all up for sale and are expected to attract interest as the summer drags on, while Tal Ben Haim and Kanu have been approached about compromise agreements. Hayden Mullins, Dave Kitson and Aaron Mokoena are available for transfer. Birch told The News: ‘They (Portpin) want it reduced and have said if this cannot be done then they cannot complete. At that point they will have to take a view on what to do next. The Trust are going to be saying the same thing, which is understandable. Both are eager to reduce such outgoings. ‘Nobody wants to take on paying somebody £2m a year in League One. It does not stack up, you have to be realistic about things. Portpin haven’t given a certain figure, but the wage bill needs to be reduced to meet their conditions and that is something we are working on all the time. ‘They have got 28 days after the creditors’ meeting to complete any deal – that is six weeks from now and during that time players have to leave. Within that there is likely to be movement, I just don’t know how many. But we are trying to get it down to £4m to £5m in League One for this season. ‘I am confident of doing it before the end of the transfer window, but it has to be done before then. It’s just a question of time and we will just have to see how it goes and keep plugging away at it. 'We need players to step up to the plate. I am confident they will be doing it if the alternative is liquidation and they will get nothing. So in that case there actually is no alternative. Unpaid wages the players are due and future wages need to be compromised. Those payments are going to be spread over time. ‘There are four or five who might have to leave under compromise agreements, others we are looking to sell. There is interest, I know that but no bids on the table at present. It is just ongoing.’ Meanwhile Pompey will begin their competitive season not at a League One ground but at a League Two stadium - Home Park, Plymouth, where the Blues have been drawn to play in the first round of the Capitol One (League) Cup. It is to be played in the week beginning August 13 - before the first league match, due on August 18. Click here for the latest offers in the Pompey store of TOFFS.com Click here for the latest offers in the Pompey store of UKsoccershop.com Discuss this story in our forum. It's quick and easy to register. truebluearmy.com
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