Pompey'S potential new financial saviour could have a foothold in two clubs by the end of the season.

Serbian millionaire Milan Mandaric, who is financing a £4.5m bid to take over Portsmouth Football Club, is reported to be on the brink of buying a Belgian club as well!

Mandaric is said to be on the verge of investing £4m in a 51 per cent share-holding in the Belgian Division 1 club Sporting de Charleroi and becoming their president in June.

That means for his Pompey takeover bid to be successful, he will need special UEFA dispensation to own two clubs in the European Union. Mandaric already owns United States indoor side Florida Thundercats.

Now he is the man who provides the financial clout for a consortium, including former vice-chairman David Deacon, to bail out cash-strapped Pompey.

They will know tomorrow, when Pompey stage a meeting of their creditors, whether their bid has a chance of being successful.

The opposition includes Pompey director Terry Brady and a Manchester businessman with past Havant links and American-based duo Vince Wolanin and pop star and lifelong Pompey fan Brian Howe.

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