Fifa thwarted in bid to resolve Jervis switch

The Blues are now confident there will be no training compensation for the 22-year-old striker, following legal advice.

As a result, they have officially applied for international clearance as they seek to settle the long-running wrangle.

However, Fifa yesterday informed Pompey they are still having difficultly in brokering an agreement with Jervis’ former club Elazigspor.

The striker quit in the summer after the Turkish outfit had stopped paying him. The PFA have also been trying to negotiate.

It leaves Jervis in limbo, while the wait drags on for Pompey over a player they are desperate to recruit.

In the meantime, he remains at Fratton Park training with the first-team squad.

But to Guy Whittingham’s frustration, the issue has still not been resolved.

He said: ‘It’s still the same as it was before, it’s just incredible.

‘We heard back from Fifa yesterday. They have done all they can but are still chasing over in Turkey.

‘It’s a real shame for the lad. He will be a good asset and is obviously getting frustrated.

‘Whatever club he goes to it’s the same thing – they have got to wait for international clearance.

‘Everybody we talk to says there won’t be training compensation.

‘We have taken advice off the PFA, FA, lawyers and that is still where we are.

‘If we thought there was too much of a chance to be stung for training compensation then we wouldn’t have applied for international clearance, because once you have applied that’s it – you’re doing it. We have got to wait and Fifa are chasing the Turkish FA for his international clearance.’

Jervis joined Elazigspor in January from Birmingham on a three-and-a-half year deal.

After walking out in the summer, he trained at both Sheffield United and Coventry before linking up with Pompey three weeks ago.

At one stage the wheels for a potential deal slowed when he picked up a training ground injury but he has since recovered and the club are ploughing ahead with chasing international clearance.

In the meantime, Ryan Bird (concussion) and Patrick Agyemang (thigh) have not trained this week, while John Marquis has returned to Millwall at the end of his second month on loan.

Fellow forward Ashley Harris is currently on loan at Chelmsford for an initial month.

It leaves just David Connolly and Tom Craddock currently fit.