Pompey sacks 85 staff

But he added he was receiving "enquiries on a daily basis" regarding a takeover for the bottom of the table Premier League side and that no players, who comprise many of Pompey's biggest earners, had been sacked.

Andronikou also said he was confident the south coast side would be able to answer questions from British tax authorities and that Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie had taken a 40 per cent pay cut.

Portsmouth are due to return to the High Court on March 15 to answer a winding-up order brought by British tax authorities.

If a judge decides Portsmouth cannot overcome debts said to be totalling STG76 million pounds ($A124.72 million) they could be liquidated and go out of business completely.

Meanwhile, they are facing the prospect of a nine points deduction for entering administration that would make their relegation from English football's top-flight all but certain.

But last weekend Portsmouth, the 2008 FA Cup winners, beat Birmingham City to reach this season's Cup semi-finals.

"Today is extremely difficult - there's always a day in the administration when you have to question whether you like the job you are doing, but it is a necessary job," Andronikou told a news conference at Potsmouth's Fratton Park ground on Wednesday.

"We have unfortunately had to make 85 employees redundant today. The club had in its employment 166 full-time staff, including players, and 154 part-time staff - excluding weekend and matchday staff.

"May I take this opportunity to thank these people for their contributions to the club and wish them well in their future.

"The redundancies were made across all areas. They are the visible cuts we are making. There will be other cuts that you won't see, but you will see them filter down in the cashflow in the short-to-medium term.

"We've had to use the administration to take (staffing) down to a level that I can manage and if unfortunately the club is relegated, it will have to be reviewed again as the overheads won't fit into a Championship environment."

Storrie, whose salary and role in the running of the club has been a hot topic of conversation among Pompey fans, remains in his post.

However, Andronikou said: "He would like to make it known that he has taken a 40 per cent cut in his basic wage.

"Peter Storrie has tendered his resignation, he is working to a timetable. He is still chief executive today (Wednesday). It may very well change. We are in a situation where we are having to adapt to an evolving story."