Dindane cleared for Cup final bow for Pompey

Ivory Coast star Aruna Dindane has been cleared to play for Portsmouth in the FA Cup final against Chelsea next month after French club Lens backed down in a row over the terms of his loan deal at Fratton Park.

Dindane has established himself as one of Pompey’s first-choice strikers since he arrived on a season-long loan in August and he won the penalty which Kevin-Prince Boateng scored to seal the club’s Cup semi-final win over Tottenham.

That looked like being the end of his season however as a clause in his loan contract would have required Portsmouth to pay Lens an additional four million pounds if he had played one more match.

Portsmouth, who went into administration in February, cannot afford to pay the fee and Lens had appeared unwilling to waive their right to it until this week.

Administrator Andrew Andronikou said the French club had accepted it would be better for Dindane to continue playing in the interests of maintaining his transfer value.

“I have been told he can play the rest of our games – including the Chelsea final – and we won’t have to pay any money,” Andronikou said.

The administrator is hoping to find a new owner for Portsmouth and remains confident that the relegated club will be able to come out of administration before starting life in the Championship next season.

“We hope the club will come out of administration by the end of May, or the first week of June at the latest,” he said.

Despite that, it is unlikely that players like Dindane will be around.

“Unfortunately the financial position of the club is that we will have to change from a Premiership club to a Championship-playing squad,” the administrator added. “There will be changes, but those decisions will be made at the end of the season. We have a cup final and we need to keep the players focused.”