Portsmouth get 10 point deduction ahead of new season
When will the travails of Portsmouth Football Club cease? The club has been dealt yet another blow haven been told by the Football League they will start the new season on -10 points if they are to be allowed into English League One.
The Club is currently in administration and two groups; the Pompey Supporters’ Trust and Balram Chainrai are slugging it out for ownership. As though the point reduction is not enough, they are also expected to meet other conditions, like paying all football creditors in full and strict financial controls.
Starting a season with -10 points is no easy feat and certainly not with the gloom hanging over the club. A host of senior players have left in recent times and with the departures of Aaron Mokoena and Hayden Mullins, they might find themselves getting relegated into the League Two.
The news of the 10 point deduction was met with disappointment by the club hierarchy. “We are extremely disappointed that the Football League has decided to impose yet another penalty on the club.
“I think most people would agree that the 10-point deduction imposed last season was sufficient, particularly as it played a huge part in the club’s relegation to League One. The fans, players and staff have suffered enough for something for which they weren’t responsible. We feel it is unjustified for the club to be punished further.
“We’ve made it clear to the League that Portsmouth needs all the help it can get at the moment, which makes today’s decision very harsh. I’m confident, though, that the club will bounce back from this latest setback. It’s not a club that gives up that easily.”
“We will continue to do all we can to give Portsmouth the best possible chance of survival,” he added.
First would be to curtail the wages of some remaining high earners at the club. While the likes wages of David Norris, Tal Ben Haim, Liam Lawrence and Marko Futacs must be paid, Nigerian ex International Kanu looks set to leave.
Administrator of Portsmouth Football Club, Trevor Birch disclosed: “We’re making headway with the wage bill reductions - Hayden Mullins and Aaron Mokoena have left today, and I expect three or four others to follow very soon.
“Kanu has also effectively indicated his intention to leave the club. This means that well over half of the club’s 10 top earners are now close to disappearing from the payroll.
Category: Sports