Portsmouth near liquidation, say fans group SOS Pompey Portsmouth supporters group SOS Pompey say the financially stricken club are approaching closure and have called on the remaining players at Fratton Park to be "part of history" and save them. The club have eight senior players left on their books and their salaries are preventing a takeover of Portsmouth. Unless they leave Fratton Park or take a pay cut the club could be liquidated. "This is the end game for Pompey, in a couple of weeks it will be over," SOS spokesman Bob Beech told BBC Solent. In June, Portpin agreed to complete its purchase of the club on condition the wage bill was reduced through player sales and compromise agreements. But administrator Trevor Birch has so far been unable to achieve sufficient savings by this strategy alone. On Friday staff at the club were told they face being made redundant and in an interview on Sunday Birch said Portsmouth were "two to three weeks away from closure". SOS Pompey presented the club's senior players with a written plea at the entrance of the club's training ground on Monday in an attempt to make them compromise on their salaries. Several of those players stopped to listen to them, but others including Tal Ben Haim - who is said to be on £36,000 a week refused to acknowledge them. "Some players were excellent and stopped to listen to what we said, others as expected weren't interested and drove straight on," added Beech. "At the end of the day, they have contracts and they expect those contracts to be paid and that is not an unreasonable stance for them to take. "But the well is dry and if they stay and keep their demands going then there will be no club and they will end up with nothing." Beech is bitter at Pompey's ongoing crisis but still believes the players could save the club. "Trevor Birch has to save the club and people could lose their livelihoods as a result," he said. "That is scandalous because the people who put us in this mess are still clinging to the wreckage and claiming millions of pounds off the club. "But the players could still be part of history and save this club. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...savIiRDR50r0FJRdQ&sig2=hcIFvz77SZOA6ZG9bHkQxw
They cheated went into admin and then were told they could carry on if they dont pay anyone over 10k. Then they sign Kitson on 20k and Haim on 36k. The players that are left are disgusting though. They wont leave which will mean the club is no more so they wont get paid. They could choose to leave and not get paid but at least the club could carry on. Very, very selfish as they will not get paid no matter what.
Since they were so accomplished at ripping people off, perhaps they were all offered high-powered jobs with City banks (with seven figure bonuses, naturally)
If you're Tal Ben Haim on £36k a week which you've signed for in good faith in what is a short career then it's a very tough decision to give that up to join a club that will realistically not even pay half that. I certainly wouldn't leave my job for another one on half the dough just to improve the balance sheet. It's the football creditor rule that I have a gripe with. It's wrong that players and clubs are guaranteed to be paid but Joe Bloggs the milkman has to accept £2 compensation when he's owed £100 for a month's worth of semi-skimmed.
He doesnt get a penny either way, at least the club can be taken over if he cancels his contract. in fact its in his best interests to do that and get another contract on half the price because at least that will be paid into his account.
For me if a club like Portsmouth go into liquidation it will be a very sad day for football. Whatever the owners have down it is not the fault of the fans who will end up suffering. Lets hope they sort it out. As for us? No chance with Amit looking after the books. TF and the Mittals are real business men and will run our club properly.
He doesnt get a penny either way, at least the club can be taken over if he cancels his contract. in fact its in his best interests to do that and get another contract on half the price because at least that will be paid into his account.
http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/A-Message-From-The-Former-Owners-2215.aspx And then: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15859800 Bunch of thieving c*nts the lot of them.
The bottom line is that the players have basically taken the game to the brink. Whilst there are clubs who will always live within their means and get nowhere with the odd promotion and relegation thrown in, there are many who are throwing more and more money into a black hole chasing success which may ultimately lead to administration and even liquidation. Nine times out of ten administration is brought about by clubs owing money to the taxman, why should they get away with what you or I would be jailed for? Whilst I have sympathy for the fans Pompey deserve whatever fate awaits them. If they liquidate they'll be back in Step 7 football the following season as a newco. Let them get on with it...
Yeah, the only "fans" to have kicked me to the ground, then tried to kick my head in. Five against one wasn't particularly fair. I have my mate, who happened to come back around the corner to see where I'd gone, to thank for avoiding a good hiding. A good 25+ years ago (1985/6?), but you don't forget this stuff. My crime? I just happened to be drinking in Winchester the night after Pompey failed to get promoted to the old Division One, with Wimbledon going up instead. Seems they wanted somebody to blame.
