LONDON - Portsmouth's mounting off-the-field problems are cause for concern, Professional Footballers Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor said yesterday.

LONDON - Portsmouth's mounting off-the-field problems are cause for concern, Professional Footballers Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor said yesterday.

Troubled Portsmouth, owned by Saudi businessman Ali al Faraj, are not only bottom of the Premier League but have huge financial worries and have paid player salaries late three times this season.

The club is also facing a winding-up order from the government and go to the High Court on Wednesday to argue the value added tax portion of their tax debt is too high at £7,5 million pounds (R87,7million).

Taylor, speaking on BBC's Sportsweek programme, said Portsmouth could suffer the same fate as League One (third division) Leeds United and fall through the leagues.

"It's always a possibility when you see clubs over-reach themselves."

Portsmouth's executive director Mark Jacob told the programme he could not guarantee the player wages would be paid on time this month. - Reuters