Deal or no deal? No deal by the looks of it...

Another of the things that I said earlier today, along with the thoughts that I 'suspected' John Utaka would be 'linked' with a move - which he has, was that I felt the longer the 'contractual dispute' with Mikey Brown and Richard Hughes went on the less likely it was they would play for us again.

The likelihood of this becoming the case became, from the looks of it, more likely today...

Steve Cotterill, talking to The News, has said that he does not expect that they will and is already 'planning for this' scenario.

Whereas David Lampitt, taking to Radio Solent, is more or less saying something similar.

He said that 'fair, reasonable offers' had been made so it is down to them although he would like to 'think' that they will play for us again: 'we think we've made fair, reasonable offers.

'The players are resisting those deals and that's their prerogative.

'It is a difficult one and obviously I'd like to think those players haven't played their last games for Portsmouth, but that's something that's not entirely in our gift.'

The worrying thing for me - putting aside the fact that it is 'pretty certain' we are going to become another couple players down permanently - is that a lack of clear communication between the chief exec and the manager 'appears' to be showing again, maybe not so much with this situation so much.

Ok, granted both have said that it is 'down to the players' although Cotterill's picture was far bleaker than Lampitt's. Perhaps Cotterill is being more up front or trying to apply more pressure with the aim of forcing someone's hand?

Whilst we as supporters want to be keep abreast of the situation, in a transparent way, I think that it is best that we start seeing the owners, chief exec and manager sing from the same hymn sheet more often, and increasingly recently it is looking as though this is not the case.

I know it is tough when people want to know what is going on, and in some ways it almost seems like it is a no win situation as many are unhappy when we hear news and many are also unhappy when we do not, although some things do need to stop being played out in such a such public way, and in varying ways by those connected to the club.

Whatever the chances of seeing Browny or Hughesy at Fratton again, as Pompey players anyway, seems increasingly unlikely...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

Click here to make your prediction: Forest v Pompey.