Former Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown has claimed that some players took the 'easy way out' when the club were in serious financial difficulties.

The 43-year-old, who played 57 times for Portsmouth between 2009 and 2011, was at the club when administration was confirmed in February 2010, revealing the scale of Pompey's off-field issues.

During that time, the first-team squad and staff at the club were not being paid, which eventually led to a mass exodus that summer.

Although the situation the club found itself in was dire, with debts of over £130 million, the former Portsmouth man said that a couple of players in the dressing room were "not up for the fight" despite the challenges.

Michael Brown, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said:

“There were always a few ones who made things that bit more difficult. When they realised things weren’t going to work out they were always going to go off to pastures new."

Brown added that a few figures at the club in particular could've dug in a bit deeper.

"There was a couple who could probably have done a little bit more. That’s human nature though where not everybody is up for the fight and look for the easy way out.”

Brown stayed at the club beyond that that summer, featuring 24 times for Pompey in the Championship before departing at the expiry of his contract in May 2011.

Read the full 888sport interview with Michael Brown to get his thoughts on Portsmouth's rejuvenation under Jackett.

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