Al-Fahim Takeover Hangs In The Balance

Last updated : 04 August 2009 By Jim Bonner
It's not often that the official Portsmouth FC website is forced to display two statements but that's exactly what has happened today after Peter Storrie's private e-mail was leaked and those loveable rogues at The Sun got hold of it.

Storrie's e-mailed a Pompey supporter to express his doubts about the takeover and the revealed that players will have to continue to be sold to keep the club going during its period of transition.

The first statement on the official site re-iterated this concern, claiming that Sacha Gaydamak hasn't put a penny into the club this year which forced the sales of Diarra, Defoe and the players who have left so far this summer to keep the club going.

With all the media speculation today suggesting Al-Fahim being ready to pull the plug on the deal, the man himself has just released his own statement on the official website claiming that he is still commited to buying the club and the takeover is in its final stages.

We have heard this many times before, but at least we can take the positive fromt his which is that Al-Fahim released a statement of his own very quickly after Portsmouth released the first statement, something which at least shows he cares. (I hope I'm not being naive in saying that...)

This information is a little reassuring because I, like many other extremely worried Pompey supporters, was beginning to believe that the takeover wouldn't happen.

And if the takeover doesn't happen then Gaydamak would continue to suck the money out of our club like a leech and we would be forced into administration, therefore slapping a 10 point penalty on the club with an already poor squad and thus confirming relegation before a ball has even been kicked.

That's the worst case scenario and it may still happen but I still believe that Al-Fahim will stick to his word and we will be taken over. The burning question is simply "when the hell is it going to happen?"

The "Terms Sheet" may have been signed and the dealdlines may have been met, but this confirms nothing and the longer this state of limbo drags on, the more players we are going to have to sell to repay our debts.

Then there is the small matter that the Premier League season begins in less than two weeks. I'm sure Roy Hodgson will be quaking in his boots when the Pompey team sheet is handed to him in the Fratton Park dressing room if Paul Hart hasn't managed to bring in at least five players.

I know that this summer wouldn't be "Pompey" without the drama but the suspense is driving people to depression! It has been looking bleak for weeks and hope is dwindling day by day.

If Al-Fahim does pull out of the deal then who knows? This may be the beginning of the end of Portsmouth Football Club.