WANDERERS will not be given a reprieve from relegation in the event of Portsmouth going bust, the Football League has confirmed.

Supporters' group SOS Pompey said this week the financially troubled south coast club are weeks away from going out of business.

Blues fans had hoped the problems at Fratton Park could work to their advantage and the their side would be reinstated to League One after being relegated last season. Wanderers finished fourth from bottom - the highest placed of the demoted teams - putting them in the leading position for a possible reprieve.

But the Football League has dashed those hopes after confirming that, in the event of the 2008 FA Cup winners folding, League One would simply carry on with 23 teams. One fewer team would then be relegated from the third the following season.

Recently Dundee were given a place in the Scottish Premier League after Rangers were demoted to the Third Division as punishment for their financial woes.

That came despite the fixture lists for next season already being published, but the same situation will not happen south of the border.

There is no promotion and relegation between the Scottish Third Division and the junior league set up, making it less problematic to move teams between the divisions to accommodate Rangers.

Portsmouth currently only have eight senior players but still need to reduce their wage bill in a bid to avoid being liquidated.

They still have several high earners left on their books from their recent Premiership days, with defender Tal Ben Haim reportedly being paid £36,000 a week.