Andrew Andronikou says the salaries offered to Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence are the 'exception to the rule'.
Lawrence and Kitson salaries the exception to rule
Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou has insisted that the salaries offered to Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence are the 'exception to the rule'.
Pompey's existence has come under threat in recent times as a result of a financial crisis partly caused by the hefty pay packets of players.
The wage bill is being managed much more carefully at the current time and Andronikou has assured supporters that will continue to be the case.
However, he recognises that the club will have to spend a little more to attract players such as Lawrence and Kitson that will significantly strengthen Steve Cotterill's squad.
Kitson arrived as part of the deal that took Marc Wilson to Stoke, while Lawrence has agreed a loan move from the Potters after the necessary paperwork for a permanent switch was not completed in time.
Andronikou told
The News: "There has been a significant change in the wage bill this season. It is something we have had to do.
"Gone are the days when extraordinary pay packets put this club in financial trouble.
"Nowadays we are looking at a budget of £13-15m this season and around £10m for next season if we retain our Championship status.
"However, in the cases of Kitson and Lawrence, we have had to push the boat out a little.
"Their wages are £19,000s and £20,000s but it is something we are comfortable with.
"As long as our overall wage bill averages out at £10,000 a week then I am happy - and it still does.
"Obviously we would rather bring in players on £8-9,000 but there is obviously going to be exceptions to the rules."
Ineffective
Andronikou admits there was a desperate need for attacking reinforcements at Fratton Park and is pleased to have assisted his manager in landing a couple of transfer targets.
"In this case, Steve Cotterill wanted these players at this club so we made sure we helped him obtain them," explained the administrator.
"The team have had no forward player other than David Nugent and John Utaka, who have been pretty much ineffective.
"Players have departed but we can't keep cutting and cutting and cutting otherwise there is not a team.
"There is always an exception to the rule and in this case we have brought in two players the manager really wanted."
