English first-division side Portsmouth has withdrawn its interest in Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi after officials of his club side Yokohama F. Marinos said Thursday they were unwilling to release him during the second stage of the J. League season.
Yokohama, which is aiming to avoid relegation from the J. League's first division after finishing next-to-last in the first-stage standings, obtained Kawaguchi's consent after informing him of the situation.
Portsmouth director of football Harry Redknapp has been eager to find a replacement for first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan, who died tragically in a road accident earlier this month, saying he was looking to sign Kawaguchi "as soon as possible." But Yokohama President Shigeo Hidaritomo said that given the club's current position in the league he "could not let him (Kawaguchi) go at this point."