PORTSMOUTH, England (AP):

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie, the target of much criticism and abuse from fans after the club slipped into administration, has left his post at the financially troubled club.

A statement from the Premier League club's administrator Andrew Andronikou said Storrie had left "in the best interests of the club" after speaking with family and friends, but said he will continue to advise them in a consultancy role.

Storrie had agreed to take a 40 per cent pay cut after 85 of the club's staff were made redundant earlier this week as Andronikou sought to cut costs, but that was not enough to appease his critics as the club fell into administration, a form of bankruptcy protection.