Portsmouth are likely to have "no alternative" but to close on 10 August unless senior players agree to transfers or wage cuts. Joint administrator Trevor Birch said: "The facts are straightforward: the players have to leave and conclude compromise settlements." The club, who have seven senior players left on their books, are due to start their League One campaign on 18 August. More to follow. Time really is ticking now, and these players could possibly make themselves heroes - but can you actually see it happening? Personally, I can't as much as I want them to
I don't really see how the players can stay on. They won't get paid anyway, so why not accept some reduced settlement now, look like you're doing everyone a massive favour and look for a new club? If they don't go, then everyone loses out, don't they?
Yes, and suddenly the people that have bled the club dry will be seen as heroes. And after that they will limp on for another 8 months before they go to sh!t, AGAIN!
Brinksmanship from the administrator to use emotional blackmail on players. Legally, the law is on the side of the players, let us not forget that. They have not been paid for months, taken cuts, deferred payments etc etc. Yes there is the clear argument that with the club dying they'll get nothing, so better to take a little than nothing, but the problem with "crying wolf" especially in football, is that no one really ever believes a club will close. I'm sure all the players agents have the view that the administrator will then seal a takeover and new players coming in will then get paid monies their clients could have (legally) had. But is all further proof (as if it was needed) that the club is 100% bankrupt and insolvent and is NOT a going concern by any stretch of the imagination where any common sense business principles apply. So much time and money is being wasted by the administrator and fans on trying to keep a dead duck alive when they should have been focusing on a phoenix club.
I honestly think this is it for Pompey. The first English club which has had a measure of proper success and longevity to become a footnote in UK football history. We've had Third Lanark in Scotland, and I believe Pompey, like them, will go out of existence and not come back from it, simply because it will be more profitable to those that own the spaces to sell the land off. There may be a phoenix club one day, but it will have no reference to the former Portsmouth FC, in my opinion. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but nobody involved, and with power, seems to care enough to make the survival happen, and those that do care can only helplessly stand back and watch the whole thing crumble. And even at this late stage, it could be avoided, but it won't be.
Might seem a bit blasé, but I reckon it'll do Pompey some good to re-invent themselves in the lower leagues, and start afresh. Their club is corrupt and will limp on until it is finally put down, which is something that should be done now, not later, in order to ensure no more prolonged agony.
Sad that the last game we'll probably ever play portsmouth (or atleast this current version) in ended in such a frustrating manner.
Any new club will have the full backing of the city. As it is the new club can and would be called Portsmouth FC. The main sticking point is what happens to Fratton. It is protected by the sports ground agreement or something. Basically it can't be bulldozed unless a suitable replacement is built. I know for a fact the use of Fratton for the phoenix club regardless of what league we are in has been extensively looked at as for most, this is the most important thing. It's the heart of PFC. So far it hasn't been ruled out, but I suppose common sense would argue whether we can use Fratton will be based on the gates we get, the income that brings in put against outgoings. Outgoings especially wages (players and staff) are gonna be very low. The average wage for a 1st teamer in the BSS is around £200. Squad of 20 = £4000. I would at a guess say the running costs of Fratton will be what the gates income would go to. It could be argued that the use of Fratton would be determined by how much support the new club gets.
I am all for being charitable, but that norris volley destroyed my spirit. The sudden change in atmosphere from euphoria to despair was haunting
Problem is, the whole league structure has been decided already. Fixtures are out, cups drawn and players signed, and it's far too late to start shuffling around to get Pompey in a lower division. So it's either League 1 with -10 points, or nothing for a season. You can decide which is more likely.
