This way it appears that it was Pompey's choice. They knew it'd go this way, so they instructed them to pay the other clubs so that they could claim it was their choice.
Silly move though, the HMRC might not look too kindly on Pompey choosing themselves to pay off football creditors ahead of tax. A provision already being imposed by the football league on TV revenue would be different, but now that Pompey are claiming it was their choice...