Portsmouth manager Tony Adams admitted that striker Jermain Defoe was furious at being left out of the starting line-up for the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

England international Defoe was brought on just two minutes from time at the Emirates Stadium, having been left on the bench in favour of David Nugent.

"Jermain was really annoyed with me for leaving him out and he is still angry with me now and I wouldn't want it any other way to be honest," Adams commented.

"It was tactical. He might have got a point. He could easily turn round to me and say 'look, you got it wrong boss because you lost'. But it's not easy being a manager and you have to make difficult decisions.

"He's a fantastic player, scores great goals, but at the moment we are struggling with balance. Away at Liverpool and away at Arsenal I chose to keep him on the bench.

"Those are my reasons and speculate all you want, but I have had no offers for Jermain Defoe, not one.

"I am determined to hold on to all of the players, but I want people who want to play for Portsmouth. We're in a scrap with 14 other clubs and if they don't want to play for Portsmouth, then they're no good to me.

"It's not reading the riot act, it's fact. If your head has been turned, if you're not trying everything to win games for the club, then I don't want you around.

"No-one's come to see me, no-one wants away. I'm really encouraged, not with the results, but with the way they are performing."