And with Pompey poised to sign Arsenal's unsettled £2million France midfielder Lassana Diarra, Storrie insisted: "Don't question our ambition."

Skipper Campbell, goalkeeper David James and now key defender Distin have all voiced their concerns over the lack of progress in the January transfer window.

When it opened manager Harry Redknapp set alarm bells ringing when he said he would be restricted to loan-signings and free transfers to fill the gaps left by African Nations Cup quartet Sulley Muntari, Kanu, John Utaka and Papa Bouba Diop who are on international duty in Ghana for up to a month.

Distin said: "I thought we would have some new players in by now. We need to bring players in or risk all our good work so far this season going to waste."

But with a deal for Diarra close to completion along with hopes of also bringing in another top player before Saturday's home clash with Derby, Storrie has reiterated Pompey's commitment to strengthen the side.

And he insisted: "We don't talk about how the players play. So they shouldn't talk about the money the club has spent."

He added: "How can someone like Sol go around and keep saying these things? We are one of the top spenders in the Premier League.

"We are puzzled as to why he keeps making these statements and comments. We have never, ever spent as much as we have done this season. Just look at the quality of the squad at the moment."

Campbell has been strong with his comments highlighting Pompey's need for star replacements and suggested their efforts to qualify for the UEFA Cup this season could be at risk if the squad was not strengthened.

But Storrie told the Portsmouth News: "It is frustrating that our own players are saying these things. I wish they would just concentrate on playing.

"I realise it shows they care and want to be part of what we are trying to achieve here, which is great, but sometimes they don't understand and make these silly statements.

"Some of these players have already forgotten how much we spent in the summer."

That was around £30million as owner Alexandre Gaydamak allowed boss Redknapp to splash out on bringing bring nine players to the south coast during the close season.

But it seemed clear the purse-strings had been tightened ahead of the January sales - until Redknapp was offered the Newcastle job, only to turn it down.

Pompey tried to sign Diarra when he left Chelsea in August but Arsenal snapped him up instead and are likely to be looking for a profit on their investment, even though the Frenchman has started just eight games this season - the last against Blackburn in a 3-2 Carling Cup win on December 18.

He looked poised to join Newcastle last week but reports of that deal collapsing have cited the player's high wage demands as a major factor.

Diarra's arrival at Fratton Park is likely to trigger the exit of left-sided midfielder Matt Taylor who has been similarly starved of first-team action this season.

Bolton claim they have already agreed a deal to take him but Sunderland and Reading are also in the hunt for the £4million-rated crowd-favourite.

Storrie said: "Matt has made it clear he wants to go and it is a matter of when we are ready to sell him."

Taylor has not even been in the Pompey squad for the last two matches and in the 2-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday, Redknapp's side desperately missed their African stars - especially with Glen Johnson and Sean Davis also out injured.

Storrie pledged everything is being done to solve the problem.

He added: "This transfer window is crazy, but it's just about tinkering. The summer is the time to spend.

"We brought quality players in during the summer and will continue to do so but at the moment clubs are being quoted silly money. But we will be bringing players in."