Dr Suliaman Al Fahim has cast doubt on his proposed takeover of Portsmouth.

Al-Fahim has denied that his proposed takeover of Portsmouth is a publicity stunt but has admitted that the deal may yet fall through should issues arise from the ongoing process of due diligence, says the Guardian.

Fahim accepts the process is more complex than he initially thought and will not be finished until next month, leaving the club in limbo with regard to making a full-time managerial appointment -Paul Hart is still only temporarily in charge - and any transfer business.

"What I can tell you is that the timescale hoped to complete due diligence [will be] in the course of July," said Ivo Ilic Gabara, a spokesman for Fahim. "Any process is open to any outcome. The due diligence process is a serious process after which the two parties decide whether to complete the understanding reached [under] the memorandum of understanding.

"But then you have accountants, lawyers, the other party - how can you control whether the other party [the current owner, Alexandre Gaydamak] at the end of due diligence is still going to be interested in selling? What I can say is that Al-Fahim very much wants to complete the process and sees a great future for the club."