Portsmouth player Richard Hughes (pictured) has issued a statement via his club's website in response to newspaper stories concerning Avram Grant.

The statement reads:

Richard Hughes has released the following statement after comments attributed to him about Chelsea manager Avram Grant appeared in today's press:

"Today's stories concerning the future of Avram Grant in certain papers is totally misleading.

"I have not spoken to Avram since he left to join Chelsea and nor have I ever said I have. I have certainly never discussed his future at Chelsea.

"The words reported were a misrepresentation of what I have said and have caused me a great deal of distress particularly as Avram is someone I have huge respect for.

"I will speak to Avram today to put forward my side of the story and to assure him that the words attributed to me were totally misleading."