Portsmouth Deny Administration Reports

Last updated : 10 December 2009 By Jim Bonner
Portsmouth FC have released a statement on the official website that states that the club are not planning to go into administration.

The full statement can be read here but to summarise, the board are disappointed that the tabloids have spread such scrutinous rumours as Al-Faraj has prioritised paying the players since he took over from Al-Fahim.

£2 million has been paid to HM Revenue and Customs and historical arrears are being paid at an ongoing basis. Al-Faraj has also not had the benefit of receiving TV revenue yet has continued to fund the club and will continue to do so.

The statement also says that if Pompey were going into administration then it would have happened in September or October. Also, contrary to rumours, Peter Storrie is not quitting Pompey as he seeks further investment from abroad and the man himself has stated in an interview with the local news that he isn't going anywhere.

So that's the latest statement, and whilst I'm grateful that the club have responded to speculation, I don't necessarily believe that everything is OK. Too many times Pompey have "rubbished" media speculation only for the reports to be true.

Perhaps we should all take the tabloids more seriously during this current time. You can ridicule the gutter rags all you like but the majority of what they have reported about our club in recent times has all been true, yet fans choose to dismiss it because the news makes for very grim reading.

So, if today's reports are true then Pompey will be selling any player of value during the January transfer window if additional finance from overseas cannot be secured.

I believe that, but then there is always the thought that Paul Hart wouldn't have been sacked nor Avram Grant would have taken the job unless there was some money in the kitty.

Only time will tell just how dire the situation is, but for now we should be focusing on the crucial game at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.