Peter Storrie gave ESPN Soccernet the first interview after the completing the new takeover of Portsmouth, as we asked him whether the south coast club will become the new Manchester City.
Ali Al-Faraj has led the takeover by his oil-rich Saudi family, and the billionaire Arab is sure to make the Premier League clubs believe they have another Manchester City on their hands.
But Storrie told ESPN Soccernet: "I'm not sure whether we'll become the next Manchester City, we shall have to wait and see. But Ali and his family are serious players alright, but to start with they want to stablise the club and we need to pay the players and pay the debts. I am sure they will then do whatever is needed to take this club forward, but first comes the job of stablising the club.
"Ali has taken on 90 per cent of the club, he's a big football fan and he will come on the board but he doesn't want to be up front and will leave the day to day running of the club to us.
"But he will want to see Portsmouth blossom. We shall go ahead with the new stadium and the new training ground and he will take a look to see what is needed in the January transfer window. The whole business of sorting this out has been hard work, time consuming and its been a minor miracle we have got it all done so quickly.
"I would anticipate that the club will be refinanced within a couple of weeks. The takeover is all completed, and I am delighted."
Source: ESPN Soccernet, October 5, 2009
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