When Harry Redknapp said “I don’t have anything to do with transfers” at one of the weekly press conferences at Portsmouth’s training ground in Eastleigh last year, it was to general amusement and incredulity until he added: “Peter Storrie handles all that.” Then it made sense.

Redknapp and Storrie, the Portsmouth chief executive, go back a fair way. The two worked together at West Ham United, where Storrie was chief executive, then director of football until his contract was terminated by the club in April 1999.

Although Redknapp was accused of engineering Storrie’s dismissal over the sale of Andrew Impey, the defender, Redknapp said: “We have had one argument in six years working together. We were going back out socially with our wives two days after that all blew up. Peter has been great for West Ham. He played a major role in establishing our youth academy and he has backed me and my staff all the way.”

Some were pleased to see Storrie leave Upton Park after his role in the ill-judged bond scheme that provoked fierce protests. He moved to Southend United and Notts County before joining Portsmouth in early 2002, becoming chief executive in late February. Redknapp was director of football and the chairman was Milan Mandaric, who was also arrested yesterday.

Expert View

The fact that the police are carrying out the investigation raises the issue of whether the football authorities are equipped properly to regulate the game

Matt Dickinson

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Background

• Police arrest Redknapp over dealings

• Whispers will not go away for wheeler-dealer

• Newell left on a road to nowhere

• Mandaric will ''offer full support' to police

Background

• Fans’ chants for Mandaric silenced

• Former bookie who knew value of being the middleman

• Faye gets caught in Redknapp’s net

• Old pals that survived Upton Park fallout

Background

• Police moves highlight FA resources shortfall

• How events unfolded

All three were in for some interesting times. Last year, for example, they were asked by the FA Compliance Unit to explain why “certain names” appeared on a printout by Betfair of punters who made money betting on Redknapp’s “surprise” return from Southampton to Portsmouth in December 2005.

But when Mandaric handed Portsmouth over to Alexandre Gaydamak last year, Storrie became the public face of the board, with Gaydamak making few public statements. Storrie’s profile was further raised in June when he was invited to serve as a member of the FA Council.

“It is good recognition for the club, so I am delighted to be asked to serve as a member,” he said. It may also be the type of embarrassment the FA would be glad to have avoided.

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