One issue which is still unclear is why Gaydamak did not sell to Faraj in August when Storrie believed he had brokered a deal for the Saudi to take over, only for Fahim to buy Portsmouth.

The new project will aim to resolve differences between them while yielding new information about the carp threat, said Marc Gaden, spokesman for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Sources close to Gaydamak claim that Faraj never tabled a formal offer then for the club - it is unclear why not - so the Franco-Russian businessman decided to sell to Fahim.