Pompey give up on Hartson chase

The SPL leaders turned down a £1.2m bid last week and said the 30-year-old was not for sale at any price.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric told BBC Scotland: "There is nothing further we can do. Hartson will not be coming.

"The situation is simple; Celtic gave us a definite no and we will now have to look elsewhere."

Mandaric said that he had not had the chance to speak to the player, who has 18 months of his contract left to run at Celtic Park.

"We respect Celtic's decision," added the Pompey chairman.

The Glasgow side are short of forwards, having let Chris Sutton go to Birmingham, while Craig Beattie is injured.

Dion Dublin has agreed a short-term deal but it is thought he will be deployed as a central defender.

At the time of the first approach, a Celtic spokesman said: "John has yet again reiterated his position and Celtic will not accept any bids for him."

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