BROKE POMPEY LOOKING DOOMED; LAWRO on Saturday: HARD-HITTING NO.1 PUNDIT VIEWS ON THE BIG ISSUES.

Byline: Mark Lawrenson 

PORTSMOUTH appear to be following the blueprint for relegation to the letter.

I can understand why they sold Jermain Defoe to Spurs and Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid back in January. They were in debt and they had no cash.

What I can't understand is why they have still not been taken over. Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim seems to keep saying that it's going to take just a little bit longer. What's all that about? I don't really get that and what chief executive Peter Storrie said last week, admitting they may have to sell even more players to raise cash, makes far more sense.

I think they might even go into administration before this bloke even takes over.

You just cannot keep selling your better players if you want to stay in the Premier League. Portsmouth have sold 12 in total whereas almost every other club has brought in at least one or two.

What's worse for Portsmouth is that the replacements for the players they have sold off are not Premier League quality.

So I see them in trouble along with Burnley, who probably accept this will be a tough season but will run things sensibly but go down financially stronger.

Hull and Birmingham are probably delighted that Portsmouth are taking the pressure off them but Hull can't seem to attract players while Birmingham have taken a massive gamble spending pounds 9million on Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez.

There is no guarantee he will adapt to the pace of the Premier League and I don't see anyone in the Birmingham midfield to weigh in with the goals to help him.

I see Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull going down.

CAPTION(S):

BIG SELL Chief executive Storrie