League One Portsmouth Releases Six Players As Supporters Trust Asks For Money

League One Portsmouth's prospects "look bleak on the pitch but the club's Supporters Trust remains confident it can secure the club's future off it," according to the PA. The troubled team confirmed on Tuesday that six first-team players "have left Fratton Park at the end of their short-term contracts as part of the ongoing cost-cutting process." Meanwhile, the saga of the Pompey Supporters Trust's attempt to buy the club "will rumble on at least until the end of the month after the latest court hearing was on Tuesday adjourned" until Jan. 31. The group's bid "hinges on the administrators, PKF, gaining permission to sell its Fratton Park, which is controlled by the former Portsmouth Owner Balram Chainrai." However, the PST said that "the latest delay gives it more time to successfully complete its takeover." Trust Chair Ashley Brown said, "Our original wish was to buy Fratton Park ourselves, and we are optimistic that we will be able to achieve this, which of course is what the fans want" (PA, 1/15).