by Michael Sawh

Created on: August 13, 2008

When current manager Harry Redknapp re-joined Portsmouth football club after his brief, and unsuccessful flirtation at the helm of their south coast rivals Southampton, he dug the club away from relegation and swiftly towards a new and potentially exciting period for the club. The charismatic Milan Mandaric still remained the club's sole owner, but Mandaric looked set to finally stand aside for others to inject new life into the small coastal football club.

The increase in finances and stabilisation brought by the wealthy Gaydamak family helped to guide the club to consecutive top half finishes, an FA Cup triumph, European football for the new season, and great optimism for the impending future of the club. The ultimate question is whether they have pushed as far as they can possibly go in their spirited attempts to join the Premier League big boys party which is currently an exclusive club for four.

This summer's transfer activity drew two distinctly shapes of progress. The club record signing of Peter Crouch could well turn out an inspired buy and for a fee to the tune of 11m, the potential partnership with Jermain Defoe may be worth much more. Other early summer transfer business was concluded with the free transfer acquisition of former Reading midfielder Glen Little and Chelsea's Ben Sahar who arrived at the club via a season-long loan.

The remaining transfer activity has been less than conclusive for Redknapp. Failing to secure the services of Reading full-back Nicky Shorey, who instead opted for Aston Villa will have provided mild annoyance, while the transfer saga surrounding Tottenham Hotspurs central defender Younes Kaboul finally reached resolution as the player signed on the dotted line. It was the lengthily process involved in the latter deal which has first ignited fears with regards to funds being released for transfer deals to be completed.

But it is a transfer that has gone the other way which has raised eyebrows and posed questions as to the ambitions of the club with Harry Redknapp possibly slipping into old ways with the rapid sale of Sulley Muntari to Inter Milan. Possibly a case of old habits never die, or simply a prospective tightening of the purse strings which harboured the quick transfer of Kaboul, it is unclear.

Granted it is a bold statement to make on the movement of a sole player, but it is a player who signified the type of proven quality that Portsmouth required to continue their progression. Claims to fund a deal for Chelsea's Shaun

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