Pompey

[patrickblue]

This is awful.
Really hope it gets sorted.

[King Kev]

I really hope they get a last minute reprieve

I don't know how 'onest 'arry sleeps at night!

[john@staustell]

I really hope they get a last minute reprieve

I don't know how 'onest 'arry sleeps at night!

"Weren't me guv, honest. I had a triffic time there, Triffic"

[patrickblue]

sorted by the looks of it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 120575.stm

good news

[Mark (Blue Army)]

sorted by the looks of it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 120575.stm

good news

Good news if true, but let's wait and see if it happens.

[Moonchesteri]

agree patrickblue. I hope tbey manage somehow

[wolfcity]

The Portsmouth side that won the FA Cup were all signed on big contracts and the Club couldn't afford to keep spending money whilst they operated in the way that they did. Harry Redknapp knew they were broke and was gone once another Club came in for him. It's his "lovable Cockney rogue" image that the media give him which winds me up. I wouldn't buy a second hand car from him. Let alone a defensive midfielder.

Chester City and Scarborough were former League Clubs that weren't quite as fortunate as Portsmouth - but at least they've been able to reform and become Supporter led. One positive.

[john@staustell]

The Portsmouth side that won the FA Cup were all signed on big contracts and the Club couldn't afford to keep spending money whilst they operated in the way that they did. Harry Redknapp knew they were broke and was gone once another Club came in for him. It's his "lovable Cockney rogue" image that the media give him which winds me up. I wouldn't buy a second hand car from him. Let alone a defensive midfielder.

Chester City and Scarborough were former League Clubs that weren't quite as fortunate as Portsmouth - but at least they've been able to reform and become Supporter led. One positive.

There is quite a long list throughout time - Halifax, Aldershot (twice?), Maidstone etc etc, not to mention the original one, Accrington Stanley - in the 2nd tier at the time(?)

That's why I dont buy this 'fault of the modern game' scenario and dont shed too many tears - they all come back in some form, even Accrington, though it took 40 years!

[wolfcity]

There is quite a long list throughout time - Halifax, Aldershot (twice?), Maidstone etc etc, not to mention the original one, Accrington Stanley - in the 2nd tier at the time(?)

That's why I dont buy this 'fault of the modern game' scenario and dont shed too many tears - they all come back in some form, even Accrington, though it took 40 years!

I didn't say it was a fault of the modern game although Football Clubs are run like never before. It's big money. Portsmouth are the most high profile case in my generation.

Accrington surely would've risen again more quickly had the hunger been there. They get low crowds now (I've been over there twice) and simply haven't cashed in on the Milk think. Think of the sponsorship opportunities. ;-)

[Ted Hughes]

Portsmouth spent a load of money they didn't have, pretending to be something they will never ever be. They even came in for our players & destabilised them by tempting them with wages we couldn't afford (& neither could they). The owners/chairman appointed the dodgiest most wasteful manager in history & were too scared to say no to him when he asked for money, which he continually did, even though he knew they were skint, then fucked off, taking their best players to his next team. He'd already shit on them once before.

The whole thing should be filed next to Peter Swales in the 'how to fuck up a football club' archive.

In theory I feel sorry for any club that goes under but when I think back to their behaviour (tapping up our players & the attitude of their fans when it happened) it's difficult not to have the same sympathey for them as we would get from most fans if it happened to us now; none whatsoever.

[david yearsley]

The Portsmouth side that won the FA Cup were all signed on big contracts and the Club couldn't afford to keep spending money whilst they operated in the way that they did. Harry Redknapp knew they were broke and was gone once another Club came in for him. It's his "lovable Cockney rogue" image that the media give him which winds me up. I wouldn't buy a second hand car from him. Let alone a defensive midfielder.

Chester City and Scarborough were former League Clubs that weren't quite as fortunate as Portsmouth - but at least they've been able to reform and become Supporter led. One positive.

Love it and I couldn´t agree more - he´ll get the sympathy vote if does a stint at Her Majesty´s pleasure, then get the England job and a knighthood!

[Slim]

Portsmouth's administrators have thanked former owner Alexandre Gaydamak after a deal was finally agreed on Saturday night to safeguard the club's future.

The club had claimed on Friday evening that they were on the brink of ceasing trading because Gaydamak had refused to sign a deal to sell to Balram Chainrai.

But, after Gaydamak confirmed on Saturday night that he would sign an agreement, the club issued a statement expressing their delight that the issue had been resolved.

"The administrators of Portsmouth City Football Club Ltd are pleased to announce that negotiations between the various parties concerning the sale of the club have now been satisfactorily concluded," the statement read.

"Accordingly, the club has now been formally sold by the joint administrators, Messrs UHY Hacker Young, and will continue to trade outside of administration.

"The administrators would like to thank Mr Gaydamak for his co-operation and assistance in securing the future of the club and acknowledges that he has played an integral part in delivering its survival."

Gaydamak had last night expressed his frustration with the club for scaremongering about the club being on the brink as he confirmed the deal, which will see Portsmouth pay him £2.2million in instalments over the next five years.

He said: "The news this week surrounding football and this club shows that the current preoccupation with money and finance isn't helping the game and its reputation.

"Portsmouth Football Club, its fans, employees, players and the community that surrounds it deserve better than being subjected to rumour resulting from some parties using the press to create uncertainty as a negotiating tactic.

"I fully intended to sign the deal on Friday and had it not been changed at the last minute I would have.

"Everyone understood on Friday that further negotiations were now required.

"A new agreement was reached late this evening and as soon as I receive the papers I will sign them.

"I hope this draws to an end this unfortunate uncertainty surrounding the club. I wish everyone involved in the club well for the future."

Tim Stocks of Gaydamak's lawyers Taylor Wessing earlier responded to Pompey's claims by insisting there were merely some technical details to be agreed and that there was never any threat to the club.

Stocks said: "There was never any demand of £2.5million being paid in cash - there were five or six highly technical points on some of the contracts which I had agreed with the administrator.

"I was baffled and saddened therefore to see announcements saying the club was at the brink, it has caused anxiety for no good reason. I would like to reassure Portsmouth fans that the club is not on the brink."

Good news for football.

[david yearsley]

Portsmouth's administrators have thanked former owner Alexandre Gaydamak after a deal was finally agreed on Saturday night to safeguard the club's future.

The club had claimed on Friday evening that they were on the brink of ceasing trading because Gaydamak had refused to sign a deal to sell to Balram Chainrai.

But, after Gaydamak confirmed on Saturday night that he would sign an agreement, the club issued a statement expressing their delight that the issue had been resolved.

"The administrators of Portsmouth City Football Club Ltd are pleased to announce that negotiations between the various parties concerning the sale of the club have now been satisfactorily concluded," the statement read.

"Accordingly, the club has now been formally sold by the joint administrators, Messrs UHY Hacker Young, and will continue to trade outside of administration.

"The administrators would like to thank Mr Gaydamak for his co-operation and assistance in securing the future of the club and acknowledges that he has played an integral part in delivering its survival."

Gaydamak had last night expressed his frustration with the club for scaremongering about the club being on the brink as he confirmed the deal, which will see Portsmouth pay him £2.2million in instalments over the next five years.

He said: "The news this week surrounding football and this club shows that the current preoccupation with money and finance isn't helping the game and its reputation.

"Portsmouth Football Club, its fans, employees, players and the community that surrounds it deserve better than being subjected to rumour resulting from some parties using the press to create uncertainty as a negotiating tactic.

"I fully intended to sign the deal on Friday and had it not been changed at the last minute I would have.

"Everyone understood on Friday that further negotiations were now required.

"A new agreement was reached late this evening and as soon as I receive the papers I will sign them.

"I hope this draws to an end this unfortunate uncertainty surrounding the club. I wish everyone involved in the club well for the future."

Tim Stocks of Gaydamak's lawyers Taylor Wessing earlier responded to Pompey's claims by insisting there were merely some technical details to be agreed and that there was never any threat to the club.

Stocks said: "There was never any demand of £2.5million being paid in cash - there were five or six highly technical points on some of the contracts which I had agreed with the administrator.

"I was baffled and saddened therefore to see announcements saying the club was at the brink, it has caused anxiety for no good reason. I would like to reassure Portsmouth fans that the club is not on the brink."

Good news for football.

Yep - good news for all concerned and particularly Pompey fans - Twitcher´s Sunday roast might be a touch more palatable !

[ronk]

I really hope they get a last minute reprieve

I don't know how 'onest 'arry sleeps at night!

I doubt he's lost 10 minutes sleep over it since he joined Spurs.