ALAN BALL is doing John Durnin a service by sending him to Blackpool in the depth of winter.

It may not be kiss-me-quick hats, candy floss and rock for the striker nicknamed 'Johnnie Lager', but Ball reckons it's the least he can do for a player who he reckons has played a vital role in the history of the club.

Durnin's contract is up at the end of the season and a month's loan at Bloomfield Road could be the prelude to something permanent for a player who has already been told he will not be required at Fratton Park next season.

Ball will not ask a fee for the 33-year-old foward, removing a major obstacle from the chances of a club coming in for him.

"It's the least I can do," says Ball, "for a player who played a vital role in this club.

"When people talk about the history of this club they always talk about players who won championships and cups.

"But those players like John Durnin who stuck with this club last season and kept it in Division 1 effectively kept this club alive, and because of that I reckon they've played just as important a role in it's history than anyone.

"Because of that, I will do anything I can to help John get a new club."

Meanwhile, Ball hasn't completely given up hope of signing Bradford central defender Darren Moore after his saga took another twist.

Sheffield United are hoping to cash in on Moore's reluctance to move from the north, but their £400,000 bid was laughed off after Bradford and Pompey agreed a fee of around £900,000 for the defender.

Moore, though, will have to lower his personal demands to suit Pompey and Ball said: "I'm desperate for a central defender, but I'm not going to negotiate with a gun held to my head."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.