Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch: "Future down to Tal Ben Haim"

Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch has said that the club's hopes of survival lie in the hands of defender Tal Ben Haim.

The Israeli international has refused to accept a reduced pay settlement to walk away from the troubled club.

Birch told ESPN: "I am trying to fight to save the club going into oblivion but we only have a few days left and it's on a knife edge, I cannot genuinely tell you what will happen.

"Ben Haim, though, has a deal on the table but he has taken a view and doesn't appear to be shifting. He might think it's a game of bluff and the club won't close, but I think he will very soon find out that it is real.

"It remains still only 50-50 that the club can survive. We have until August 10, but we will all need to know a few days before Friday."

A team of Pompey trialists produced a superb performance to win against Bolton Wanderers at Fratton Park on Saturday at Fratton Park.