Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch says he expects Blues target Joel Ward to be the next player to exit Fratton Park. Last night, Leeds were reported to be winning the race for the versatile 22-year-old defender or midfielder.

Birch said: “Someone like Joel Ward will, I think, be the next one to go. There are two or three Championship clubs interested in him.

“Things aren’t going that quickly, though, and it becomes a bit difficult. There are two or three other players also being looked at by clubs so the interest is there, without a question.

“People like Erik Huseklepp, Greg Halford, Luke Varney, David Norris, there are a few of them who could be sold and we are looking to go down that route. With others, we are waiting to see if they are going to attract interest.”

Birch is frustrated that it’s taking a while to get deals done as he looks to halve Pompey’s £10.5 million wage bill ahead of their 2012/13 League One campaign: "The problem is these sort of things can take longer than you think and time is not what we have.”

Meanwhile, the Blues have been given the Football League Family Excellence Award for the fifth year running.

Photo: Action Images

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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