Portsmouth have confirmed that former defender Sol Campbell is suing the club for unpaid fees and bonuses totalling £1.7million.
The cash-strapped Premier League club are preparing to appeal against a winding-up petition from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs following a High Court judge’s ruling.
However Pompey, who have struggled to even pay their playing staff on time on several occasions this season, have revealed that they have received a writ from Campbell’s lawyers for money that he is allegedly owed from image rights and bonus payments.
“The matter is being dealt with by our lawyers,” a club spokesman said when confirming the receipt of the writ.
The 2008 FA Cup champions also owe about £10m to clubs in the Premier League and abroad and are currently barred from signing new players because of a Premier League transfer embargo.