by Martin Spinks

​LIAM Lawrence could still be a Stoke City player amid fears his transfer to Portsmouth didn't go through in time on deadline day, The Sentinel can reveal.

That would leave Lawrence returning to the Britannia - but unable to play as Stoke have already declared their 25-man squad.

It is believed that Portsmouth lodged the paperwork for his transfer 15 minutes too late for it to be registered by the FA and Premier League.

Discussions are still taking place between Portsmouth and football's top brass to find a loophole.

Portsmouth's plan B is thought to be an attempt to sign Lawrence on loan ahead of a permanent move when the transfer window re-opens in January.

But there is a limit of two loan players from the same parent club and Pompey already have Stoke duo Ibrahima Sonko and Carl Dickinson on their books.

The whole fiasco will be an embarrassment to those dealing with the transfer at the Portsmouth end and will infuriate Lawrence after being led to believe his move had gone through at the 11th-hour last Tuesday evening.

Lawrence is currently away on international duty with Ireland and due to play in tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier at home to Andorra.