Apologies if this has been brought up before, but which clubs in the Championship have the most to lose (aside from the club itself) if Pompey are liquidated before the end of the season? As I understand it, if liquidation does occur the results (and therefore points) from all Pompey's games will be declared null & void. This would have a dramatic effect on the main promotion candidates. West Ham & Brighton would both lose 6 points, Middlesborough, Cardiff, Hull - 4 points, Reading & Birmingham - 3 points and Blackpool & Saints just one point. It is therefore essential for some of these clubs - especially West Ham, Brighton & Reading - to do everything they can to ensure Portsmouth make it to the end of the season. It eventually comes down to cash. Pompey cannot sell their players, but they can farm them out on loan - which of course, eases the wage bill, but that in itself is not enough. There are fees associated with loaning out players, but, again these are a (relative) pittance. However, certain affected clubs are trying to circumvent the ban on buying players by paying grossly inflated loan fees - essentially a transfer fee, which is against Football League rules. I have a contact who works for one of these clubs, who has confirmed that this is exactly what is happening. Time for the FL to investigate?
ha ha, loved that response fran ! seriously tho, excellent & very interesting post Dr Wu. I'm sure PFC won't go into liquidation however bad their position. PL, FL, Sky or other will bail them out with some sort of £ advances. At the moment theyre trying to remain impartial without getting involved & TBH the administrator is doing what looks like a thoroughly proffessional job i.e. making sure, finally & for the first time, PFC are operating solvently, if only just. The loss of players (lower wages, plus the fee's you speak of), drip feed of other advanced TV money, etc will ensure they complete the season. However, you raise a very interesting point regarding the advantage of PFC staying afloat this season for the likes of westhoof, Brighton et al & I'm sure they took the stance to pay a rather inflated fee, rather than negotiate hard against a "poker" player with all his cards on display ! We just need to concentrate on the next game starting tomorrow & when we finally get around to PFC, make sure we beat them. I'm only interested in points & position now. COYS.
You raise some good points garysfc. As a Saints fan since 1966, the last 2 seasons have been fantastic. I want them in the PL because they've won the right to be there - not because of another club's misfortune! I agree that the current administrator seems to be doing the best he can & I genuinely hope that Pompey survive. But even with cash injections, their situation is such a mess - they don't own their ground, or the land surrounding it, & coupled with their massive debts, I can't see how they'll avoid liquidation. However, my post wasn't having a go at Pompey, but the way certain other clubs are manipulating their misery for their own ends.
It would be a catastrophy no matter which way you look at it. They could not just look at the teams that have beaten or drawn with Pompey they would also look at the teams that Pompey have beaten or drawn with as well. I know there haven't been that many but I'm guessing they would have to see if that would effect any of those teams as well. I am guessing it would.
its just been reported in "the news" PFC have received £700K from westhoof for Henderson as a loan fee but with an option to buy at the end of the season !! i think this just goes to show exactly what is happening - there's no way westhoof would pay £700K for a promising keeper & his wages, just to sit on th bench & therefore you have to assume they have a contract clause, in that the event of a transfer, part or all of the £700K is included in the purchase.
So Mullins and Henderson have been signed up by Reading and West Ham. Does seem like a good conspiracy theory but I can't see that they would take those players on loan just to save Pompey and therefore the points already won. If you look at it another way then by taking these players on loan they are substantially weakening Pompey's team and therfore increasing the likelyhood of Pompeys opposition (us) gaining the 3 points. If they had it in the loan contract that they would go back to Pompey to play for us I would be narked!
Definitely not a conspiracy theory Big Si - it's the stated policy (albeit behind closed doors) of at least one club in the top three. Survival is much more important than relegation - which is now all but certain to happen, so if loaning players out until the end of the season - saving the wage bill and getting a cash injection with "loan fees" will ensure the club still exists come May. Given the rapidly dwindling playing staff, it's conceivable that they won't get another point. That won't matter a jot if the club survives.
If that is the case it does stink a bit of desperation on the purchasing club. Fair play to Pompey, get what they can but West Ham are effectivley paying them 700K to safeguard 6 Championship points. It will seem a bit pointless (no pun intended), if they don't go up automatically and costly to them.
Absolutely right, but WH are third now & no guarantees that they'll win their game in hand & they won't want the lottery of the play-offs.(nor do we!) It's so close at the top that all the teams are likely to suffer from the jitters as the finishing tape looms. IMHO, Saints & Reading have the more stable set ups. Both clubs have excellent managers & both clubs are run well & sensibly. One of NA's strengths is to keep the players focussed on the next game, and keep their feet on the ground. If it takes 700K of WH's cash to make automatic promotion more likely, then from their point of view, it's money well spent, given the gravy train we know & love as the PL! And they'll have a pretty decent GK on their books, who can be kept, loaned or even sold on. A bit cynical I know - but there's so much at stake
If they go into liquidation, Reading will drop 3 points and we'll only drop one - nit a big margin I know, but it could be crucial
