Portsmouth's players are being paid by a rival consortium, it has been revealed.

The Daily Mail says Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has ridden to the rescue by using his relationship with Ali al-Faraj to broker a deal which will see the Saudi property magnate pump £5million into the beleaguered south-coast club.

Storrie's bid to gain control of the club with the backing of al-Faraj was gazumped at the 11th hour when former owner Alexandre Gaydamak plumped for Suliaman Al Fahim.

He has since promised to inject £50m into Portsmouth but if that money is not forthcoming soon, the club could face a similar wages shortfall at the end of this month. The Premier League are monitoring the situation.