SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE:BALRAM CHAINRAI, the owner of Portsmouth before the club entered administration, has appealed to the English FA and Premier League to consider "the players and loyal supporters" following the governing bodies' joint statement that the club would not be allowed to play in next season's Europa League.
Portsmouth qualified for the competition after reaching next month’s FA Cup final with Chelsea, but were unable to apply for the club licence to play by the FA’s March 1st deadline because they were in administration.
The club had hoped to appeal to be allowed a late application next week, as Uefa’s official deadline is May 31st, before yesterday’s move by the FA and Premier League.
Chainrai said: “We are trying to put things right at Portsmouth by putting proper governance procedures in place and ensuring all financial matters are above board and transparent. Yet the club seem to be continually being punished for the problems created by previous regimes.
“How many more times will Portsmouth be punished for that which was absolutely not the responsibility of myself, the players and most importantly our loyal supporters?”
This week the full scale of the club’s parlous finances was revealed by Andrew Andronikou, the joint administrator, who confirmed total debts of €142 million.
Chainrai pointed to this transparency as evidence of the club’s desire to move on from its mismanagement under previous owners.
“It was a tremendous effort from the players to reach the FA Cup final against all the odds, and all we would ask is for the opportunity to take up the reward for such an achievement – to play in Europe. The spirit and determination shown by the players and supporters deserves nothing less.”
It is understood Chainrai, who is owed about €16 million as a secured creditor of the club, may take legal advice over the move by the FA and League. If Portsmouth are not allowed to play then the seventh-placed Premier League club, currently Liverpool, would take their spot.
Andronikou echoed Chainrai’s views. “It’s wrong for the fans that they should not be allowed to support their club in Europe next season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have confirmed they are owed €1.15 million by Portsmouth over the non-transfer of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic but have denied the figure relates to a sell-on fee.
The club owe Spurs the money after the proposed joint transfer of Younes Kaboul and Begovic to White Hart Lane fell through and the latter chose to join Stoke.
With Begovic never having been a Tottenham player, Spurs say the €1.15 million amounts to compensation for the failure of the transfer rather than a sell-on fee.
The statement on the club’s website read: “Our original agreement with Portsmouth was for the purchase of two players for a combined, agreed price.”
The transfer of Kaboul was completed but Spurs say Portsmouth agreed that should Begovic be sold or loaned to any other club, Tottenham would be repaid the €1.15 million.
“Portsmouth were keen to openly and freely agree to this surety”, the statement added.
- Guardian Service
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