James' deal collapse explained

Portsmouth chief Peter Storrie insists Stoke City's unwillingness to pay all of David James' wages was why the deal collapsed.

It had looked like Stoke would sign the Pompey and England international on loan for the remainder of the season earlier in the week.

However, Stoke pulled out of the deal on Friday after earlier reports speculated he could even be part of their side that played Liverpool this weekend.

Storrie has now confirmed that Stoke were unwilling to pay 100 per cent of James' wages, nor did they wish to keep paying him until the end of June.
Wages

"As far as I am concerned, if a fellow Premier League side want to take a Premier League player, then pay his wages. Why bother even ringing if they are not going to pay his wages?" he told Sky Sports News.

"They wanted to pay part of his wages, an appearance fee and some more money if they stay in the Premier League.

"They only wanted to do that until the end of the season, where generally if you take a loan of a Premier League player, you pay it until June 30, the end of his contract period.

"I don't think we were being unreasonable. When we want to sign players on loan from the Premier League we have to pay them until June 30.

"I made it abundantly clear that even if we had wanted to let David go, which had not yet been defined, it wasn't worth us going down that line until there was an offer on the table that was reasonably acceptable."