Daring to dream: Pompey owner Gaydamak says his life is on hold until after tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final clash

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Gaydamak, French-born but of Russian descent, has been the sole owner for just under two years during which time, with his investment and the shrewd management of Harry Redknapp, the club have made impressive progress.

Tomorrow Gaydamak, Sacha to his friends, will be at Wembley with his German wife Tanya and other family to see if the south coast club can reach the Final for the first time since 1939.

"I am excited and, yes, there is a great sense of satisfaction," said the 32-year-old.

"For example, you would never normally see me in jeans during the week but these are special times and for the last few days I am taking very slowly.

"Everything is on hold until tomorrow and then we will see what happens. After that, whatever the result, I will start to dress properly again."

Gaydamak spent the first 19 years of his life in France before coming to Britain in 1995 to work in finance. He has a house in Mayfair but his spiritual, somewhat shabby home is Fratton Park.

He said: "I began my career in Paris where I learned about the stock market in a brokerage firm. I moved to the UK and worked in a private bank, establishing a portfolio of clients.

"I established some capital which, using my knowledge of Russian, allowed me to pursue stock market interests there. I went to Russia for the first time in 2000 and I was impressed by the business opportunities.

"The economy was slowing down in Europe so I established a brokerage firm in Russia, dealing in second-tier stocks. Today it is probably the biggest firm of its kind in Russia."

There have been rumours that Gaydamak is willing to sell Pompey but he denies that, pointing out that the project has only just begun and that the club have found a site on which to build a new 36,000-seater stadium.

"In football you get a result every week — you are either sanctioned or rewarded," he said. "You don't have to wait for a board meeting or quarterly results. For me it's wonderful because, with football, you are always on that emotional rollercoaster.

"I have never been to an FA Cup Final but I hope to change that this year. I went to the Carling Cup Final between Chelsea and Tottenham this season. I remember standing at the bottom of one of the escalators with one of my colleagues, watching the happy Spurs fans after the game and saying to him: 'Can you imagine, really imagine, what it would be like if, one day, Portsmouth were here at Wembley?'

"He looked at me and replied: 'Don't even talk about it — let's see what happens'. That was before we played Manchester United in the Cup so we didn't even dare to think of that possibility.

"For us to be favourites at this stage is a first, and it's a humbling experience because I spend most of my time here in London and, with clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea here, you realise the magnitude of the game in this country."

Gaydamak has invested significantly in the club and has no plans to stop. His partnership with Harry Redknapp and chief executive Peter Storrie has been a successful one so far.

"Harry and Peter have worked so hard," he said. "I am happy and relieved Harry didn't decide to go to Newcastle. He is great for us and for a club such as ours at this time and he is the best manager we could have. His is the profile of the man you want in charge of Portsmouth.

"Every club has its own culture, its fibre, its vision and Harry is perfect for us. He is a great man outside of what he has done for the club. We could not do any better."

Gaydamak has no immediate plans to climb off his "emotional rollercoaster" for the foreseeable future.

"I don't want to sell the club," he said. "This is only the beginning of the project. The only way it would happen now is if someone came in with an offer that was completely and economically irrational."

In the meantime though, Gaydamak can hardly contain his excitement.

"What we have achieved so far has been by hard work and a little good fortune. It's like the man who prays every day 'Please God, let me win the lottery.' After 30 years he is still praying until God has had enough. He says to the man, 'Yes, I will arrange for you to win the lottery but please go and buy a ticket first.'

"I have bought the ticket and hopefully we can win the lottery twice this season, first tomorrow and then in the Final."