The IFA granted Pompey permission to talk to Sanchez – with the former Wimbledon player reportedly keen to take on the Portsmouth job as well as remaining in charge of Northern Ireland.

However, Portsmouth managed to agree compensation with Southampton for the return of Mandaric’s number one target – Harry Redknapp – yesterday.

Boyce was critical of the way the Barclays Premiership club went about the matter on BBC Radio 5 Live this afternoon.

But angry Mandaric responded: “Let me put the record straight – I’m very disappointed and surprised Mr Boyce is making this derogatory statement.

“He has not done his homework and I think he will be a very embarrassed man.

“I am protecting my club...he had better stop and apologise to Portsmouth Football club or I will break any confidentiality.

“I don’t want to get into this kind of situation – yes, we had an interest in Lawrie Sanchez, asked for permission and got it. But we didn’t go further than that.”

Mandaric refuted suggestions Sanchez’s name was one of several linked to the club which only came into the frame to speed up a potential row over compensation for Redknapp with south-coast rivals Southampton – who the 58-year-old walked out on at the weekend.

But Mandaric continued: “We didn’t talk to Mr Sanchez for reasons I’m not going to expose but everyone we put statements out about, we talked to.”

However, he was reluctant to give any more details about his dealings prior to the unveiling of Redknapp for a second spell at Fratton Park yesterday.

The Serb-American businessman added: “Why should I go into detail about what has taken place in the last three or four days?

“These are confidential things – between individuals and clubs.”