S.O.S Pompey

Wanted! One careful owner who recognises how the passion of the Pompey fans makes Portsmouth Football Club a football club worth saving.

Hundreds of Pompey fans are expected to rally behind a fans' protest initiative ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie with Sunderland to help save Portsmouth FC.

Fans are being asked to march, rally and then sign a petition calling on the clubs' current owners to sort out the financial mess at Fratton Park. The petition, which can be signed by all fans on Saturday, will be handed in by a group of young Pompey fans ahead of the match.

And if the current owners are unable to come up with the finance needed, then fans are urging the present owners to sell up to someone who can.

With a winding up petition hanging over the club, over unpaid tax debts, a transfer embargo in place and the salaries not paid on time two months out of the past three, fans are claiming enough is enough.

A march is planned from the Guildhall Square at 12.45pm. Those fans will meet with another group rallying at Milton Park from 1.15pm. Once united, fans will then march to Fratton Park at 2pm, where a petition is set to be presented to the club by a group of young supporters, representing the future of the club.

Spokesman for the protest Bob Beech said: "We are making our voices heard telling those in charge you can try and kill our club but you cannot kill our spirit. The protest also points out to any potential investor who may be waiting in the wings that there is no lack of passion with the fans."

And Pompey 'super fan' John PFC Westwood added: "We want to show everyone that fans are united behind this protest. We urge all fans to march, rally or sign this petition," he said.

"We are not against the new owner for the sake of it. If Ali Al Faraj can show he has the finance to take the club forward we would welcome it, but if he hasn't he should step aside and allow someone who has to take over."