DAVID DEACON looks odds on to make a return to Portsmouth Football Club as the city awaits an official decision on who is about to buy the cash-strapped club.

Deacon, son of former Pompey chairman John Deacon, left Fratton Park four years ago but it is believed he will be announced as the new owner for around £4.5m within the next two days.

Deacon is favourite to make a return with the backing of American property magnate Milan Mandaric and Bob McNab who played alongside Pompey boss Alan Ball at Arsenal in the 1970s.

Also linked with the move is former Brighton manag-er Liam Brady who played for Arsenal too and is currently a youth development officer at Highbury.

Club administrator Tom Burton has refused to name the new buyers but is expected to announce a deal to a meeting of the club's creditors on Thursday and inform the Football League at the same time.

Deacon spent 25 years with Pompey before resigning as vice-chairman in 1995 and he is keeping tight-lipped about the expected announcement.

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