Jason Pearce and Greg Halford were not included in relegated Portsmouth's matchday 16 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday due to agreements with potential suitors, according to boss Michael Appleton. Appleton acknowledges there could be as many as "17 or 18 players leaving the football club and the same number coming in", and star performers Pearce and Halford are set to be two of first to leave as Fratton Park prepares for League One football.

"There are agreements in place with various clubs over Greg and Jason that they wouldn't play the game, which we had to abide to, because we need to recoup the money for their services," Appleton told Pompey's official website.

"Benjani, Dave Kitson and Kanu didn't travel to the game. Their future has to be away from Fratton Park or this football club won't be able to survive, it's as simple as that. They have known that for a long, long time."

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