Appy: Players are staying until January

The Blues’ current squad will not be allowed to sign for another team before the start of 2013, despite most of them being on one-month deals.

And Appleton assured supporters the finance is in place to keep together the players currently at Fratton Park, regardless of whether a takeover of the club is completed in the coming days.

The Pompey players’ current deals run until September 6 – and Football League regulations state only players unattached on the final day of the window can be signed in a closed period.

Appleton said: ‘We’re in control of the situation.

‘They can’t leave the club until the contract finishes – which is the second week of September.

‘If they leave they can’t sign for another club until January, so it’s in their best interests to stay.

‘Even if they don’t want to stay beyond January they can earn themselves a contract by playing and playing well.

‘It was a difficult situation we were put in, but we knew what we were doing and we weren’t stupid.

‘We weren’t going in with our eyes closed.

‘It works for both parties. If they aren’t comfortable with the situation in January we can reassess it then.

‘It’s in everyone’s best interests to re-sign.’

Appleton has also calmed any concerns the finance is not in place to cover the cost of his players signing for another month. He explained there is a budget to tie down players regardless of whether the club still remain in administration.

Appleton said: ‘I think we’ll still be in a position to re-sign players on another month’s contract. I think we’re okay, even if the ownership isn’t done by September 6.’