Pompey plan Europe appeal

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Portsmouth are planning to appeal to the Football Assocation in a bid to secure a Uefa club licence to play in Europe next season.

In booking their place in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, the relegated outfit qualified for European competition next term.

However, due to their dire financial plight it is unsure if Pompey will be allowed to take their place in the Europa League.

With Chelsea certain to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, it means Portsmouth are entitled to claim the Europa League place usually awarded to the FA Cup winners.

But with the club in administration they are not allowed to apply for a required Uefa licence.

However, Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou has indicated they will appeal to the FA in a bid to be awarded the authorisation to allow them to play in Europe next term.

"I think it is vitally important we explore all possibilities of getting the club into Europe," Andronikou told Sky Sports News.

"It speaks for itself, it will be a fantastic achievement for the club to play in Europe next year and obviously make it a more attractive proposition for any interested party."

Andronikou confirmed Portsmouth did not apply for the Uefa licence before 1st March deadline due to the club's financial problems.

"I think the fundamental reason [for not applying for the licence] was that it had not had its accounts filed by then.

"It is the year ending May 2009 accounts and although they had been audited they had not been filed."

Asked if he was confident of winning the appeal, Andronikou said: "No I am not confident. Obviously we are looking at the situation, I think we certainly have an uphill struggle in terms of making the appeal but nonetheless we will try."

Andronikou also revealed incoming David Lampitt will have no input on the appeal as he is on Uefa's club licence committee and the issue would be a clash of interests for all parties.

"I think in this situation he will have a conflict of interests," noted Andronikou

"We will follow the proper channels and I don't think David will have an input into our application."

Andronikou also claimed in the wake of their win over Tottenham a number of other groups have expressed an interest in taking over the club.

"We are in discussions with one party as you know, but we have had a number of other calls obviously as a result of the club's success yesterday. We are exploring all possibilities," concluded Andronikou.

skysports.com

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I was fully expecting that and I think they will be granted the permission in the end.

[Moonchesteri]

Will be funny to see a Championship side in the Europa League!

[Scatman]

Will be funny to see a Championship side in the Europa League!

Didn't Millwall do it the other year?

[Vhero]

Not gonna happen too many benefactors not going there way they were in administration and they will be relegated. I don't think the FA will want them there plus it means taking it off a team like Everton who earned it also which isn't fair. I can't see them getting it.

[ross.mcfc]

UEFA have been quite tight on clubs and there finances so it would go against everything they preach by letting Pompy in.

Im not sure if I was a Pompy fan I would want to be there either. You play 50+ games in that league. Plus domestic club tournaments. If Pompy dont get a new owner it it vital they get promoted next year it it maybe curtains for them. They should concentrate on the league.

Mind you there fixture list might be quite funny next year

Home to Swindon - Sat
Away to Athletico Madrid - Thurs
Home to Doncaster - Sunday.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Saw this story on SSN yesterday and wouldn't be surprised if they got no change out of Uefa. Do they want a cash strapped outfit like Pompey, who flirted with going bump, in their competition? I doubt it. Not enough to bypass the rules for them anyway.

[Moonchesteri]

Not gonna happen too many benefactors not going there way they were in administration and they will be relegated. I don't think the FA will want them there plus it means taking it off a team like Everton who earned it also which isn't fair. I can't see them getting it.

I'd like to think Pompey have earned it too. They have afterall made it to the FA Cup Final. And I like the fact you actually get something for succeeding in domestic cups.

[Slim]

Surely UEFA can't allow a club in administration a European license, there were some 15 clubs who qualified last season through their own domestic leagues who were declined admission due to financial situations and ground standards, that shithole they play in must mean they fail on two fronts.

[Ted Hughes]

Surely UEFA can't allow a club in administration a European license, there were some 15 clubs who qualified last season through their own domestic leagues who were declined admission due to financial situations and ground standards, that shithole they play in must mean they fail on two fronts.

Don't see how Platini & co can spout all the bullshit about financial constraints & then allow Portsmouth in. Re the ground though; they played in Europe there a couple of seasons ago.