Portsmouth sign a whole new team – in just one day

Michael Appleton: Busy day (Getty Images)

Portsmouth completed the signing of nearly a whole new side yesterday when 10 players joined the troubled club just in time for their opening League One game at home to Bournemouth tomorrow.

The news followed the announcement that Pompey will be allowed to begin the season on zero points until the club can come out of administration.

Kieran Djilali, Mustapha Dumbuya, Jon Harley, Brian Howard, Izale McLeod, Lee Williamson, Jack Compton, Luke Rodgers and Liam Walker all signed one-month contracts at Fratton Park yesterday.

Simon Eastwood, who played in the 3-0 defeat to Plymouth in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday in a side made up largely of youth players, also signed after originally playing on a non-contract basis.

Howard will take on the role of captain at the club. The midfielder has been at Reading for the past three seasons and spent time on loan at Millwall last season.

Williamson joins from last season's play-off finalists Sheffield United, dashing the Blades' hopes he would sign a new deal at Bramall Lane, while Harley spent last season at Notts County.

Speaking to the BBC, the Portsmouth manager, Michael Appleton, said: "They are just one-month contracts, that is all we can do because of the risk to both parties at the minute.

"But it's fantastic for the players, many of which have been training with us for four weeks, but there is still a fantastic spirit and they can't wait to play."

Earlier, Pompey got the news they needed when the League granted them permission to start the season in administration.