Portsmouth boss Avram Grant pleads for the club’s future ahead of Wednesday’s winding-up order in the High Court…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth say they are close to reaching an agreement to avoid being wound up in the High Court this week…. From BBC News. Full story

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Aruna Dindane equalises in the 96th minute to earn cash-strapped Portsmouth a deserved draw against Sunderland…. From BBC News. Full story

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Aruna Dindane equalises in the 96th minute to earn cash-strapped Portsmouth a deserved draw against Sunderland…. From BBC News. Full story

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I don’t know about anyone else, but I have a sneaky feeling that I still feel pretty much the same as you all do. Bit like a wounded animal who desperately needs a vet, but can’t get to one.

I hurt from that defeat, or rather embarrassment against Chelsea and I just can’t seem to shake it off. Maybe half the problem is that it followed the defeat against the Mancs on our own turf, being knocked out of the FA Cup by Stoke.

Had the defeats been spread out through the season, maybe it wouldn’t feel quite so bad, but it does.

Not only is it hard enough to stomach, but then you have to read all the comments from the likes of Ballack who says we are too soft, Deco, who says we are bottlers and then the only thing our leader can say is we were ‘Naive’ – how can he say that?

Arsene, you are the one being naive, you are the one who thinks that all of our players are good enough – you are clearly very very wrong. Ok, we can’t do anything about it right now because the transfer window has closed but come the summer things have to change, and quite dramatically in my mere humble opinion.

I won’t jump on the ‘Arsene Wenger out’ bandwagon just yet, but I have to say that I don’t think it will be too long before I do – probably right at the end of the summer!!

Listening to some of the pundits yesterday, some of them are now questioning how he has been allowed to continue as our manager when things have gone the way they have for so long. I haven’t really heard them say that before, but of course, they are right.

Then to hear Nigel Winterburn – he made it sound so very simple; he echoed the opinions of most of the fans. He said we need to bring in experience – a keeper, defender, midfielder and a striker.

Well said Nigel!! Maybe he could call Arsene Wenger and give him his views, and why not get Winterburn to pop along to the training days and help Clichy get back to the way we all know Clichy can play.

Walcott says we need to find a killer instinct, well I say to Theo, why don’t you start by finding it yourself!! Clichy says ‘Don’t write us off’ – I say to him, try staying on your post for corners and stop going for a wander!!
I could go on, but what’s the point…

Little bit of news – Luke Freeman and JET have been added to the Champions League squad. JET being added is not too much of a surprise, but Freeman, now that is interesting. He does like to score, but hanging our hopes on such a young footballer is not the best place to be in really. Like I said, it could turn out to be very very interesting…..

On loan Jay Simpson isn’t happy having been replaced by Marcus Bent – why not get him back, he is a striker and right now we don’t have one… Do I sound desperate now

That’s it, not much I know, maybe tomorrow especially at 10pm, I will feel a little brighter…

I hope we all do…

Portsmouth say they are close to reaching an agreement to avoid being wound up in the High Court…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth say they are close to reaching an agreement to avoid being wound up in the High Court…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth have been approached by "two or three" groups interested in taking over the club, claims executive director Mark Jacob…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth boundary lines dividing the city between North and South

Portsmouth is the only island city in the United Kingdom and one of the most densely populated in the country. At the 2001 census it was the only city in England with a greater population density (12,015 sq mi) than London as a whole (11,816 sq mi). There are many other facts I could recite off of Wikipedia or the Portsmouth City Council website but I’ll spare you. What Portsmouth or Pompey is

Portsmouth FC

known for is its Football club (Portsmouth FC), the Home of the Royal Navy in the form of HM Naval Base Portsmouth and its many maritime links such as Nelsons Flagship HMS Victory, the Henry VIII doomed Mary Rose and the Royal Marine Museum as well as the British D-Day Memorial Museum.

But come 2010 Portsmouth will again be choosing its Members of Parliament to represent the city. Portsmouth as seen above is divided into two rival constituencies; North and South. Both incredibly different represented by two different parties and two very different personalities. In this blog and subsequent I’ll be looking into the local issues as well as national which will affect the outcome of these two marginals.

So lets start with the basics; both constituencies represent 70,000 people give or take (P North 70,871 & P South 71,774). Both are

Portsmouth Guildhall

major urban population areas featuring all the hallmarks of any inner city seats; Posh areas (Southsea for South & Portsdown Hill for North), large suburban areas of middle income homeowners (56.4% in South & 73.8% in North) and several areas of 1970’s council houses and flats populated mainly by lower to middle income workers (Somerstown, Buckland, Landport and Portsea for the South and Paulsgrove, Wymering, Stamshaw for the North).

The city has the usual problem of any major population area in the UK; problem with drug trafficking through ferry ports and selling of illegal narcotics on the streets, illegal immigration through the Continental Ferry Port (France & Spain), anti-social behavior of youths from the above mentioned areas, drinking culture in the city centre around the pubs and clubs, poverty and social breakdown etc.

For those with a good memory will probably remember Portsmouth was:

Police have moved to reassure residents in a city labelled the worst for sex attacks that they face a “minimum risk” of being raped by a stranger.Portsmouth was labelled by think tank Reform as the city with the highest numbers of rapes per 1,000 people.

However thankfully we dropped said ‘title’ after a year of progressive policing which saw rape drop by 22.8% in a year bringing it well under the national average.

Spinnaker Tower and HMNB Portsmouth

In our next part we will be looking at the two representative of Portsmouth North and South, their history, faults (which are long), the haunted past of expenses, achievements (which are few), boundary changes and the all important opponents.

Coming Soon…

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United can move to the top of the table with victory over struggling Portsmouth at OT…

Form guide : Having had as many changes of owners as wins this season, it’s been off-the-field activities rather than the football which has dictated Pompey’s fall to the foot of the Premier League. With all the uncertainty off the pitch, Avram Grant’s side have suffered the side-effects as they go into Saturday’s game without a win since late October. They are, therefore, worlds apart from United as the champions look to build on a seven-game winning streak, which has brought back-to-back 3-1 victories over Manchester City and league rivals Arsenal.

Ins and Outs : The end of the African Nations Cup means Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda and Aruna Dindane all returned for their midweek game against Fulham. However Nwankwo Kanu has yet to arrive since being out on duty with Nigeria, while Papa Boupa Diop and Michael Brown remain sidelined. United are likely to keep a similar look to the team that took care of Arsenal. Rio Ferdinand will not feature as he completes the second of a four-game domestic ban (although he’s contesting the extra match ban for a ‘frivolous’ previous appeal). Nemanja Vidic is also recovering from a calf injury, meaning Wes Brown should partner Jonny Evans at centre-back.

Star man : Frederic Piquionne, on loan from Lyon, scored in back-to-back games against Chelsea and Liverpool before Christmas. The 31-year-old would love a strike at OT to revive his hopes of making France’s World Cup squad.

Manager: Avram Grant has had plenty to deal with since moving down from the

Portsmouth’s takeover by their fourth different owner of the season may be challenged by previous owner Ali Al Faraj…. From BBC News. Full story

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So I enter the world of blogs probably about 5 years too late but hey I’ve never had a desk job before, why would I want to use my free time? I might as well get paid to do this right?

I suppose seeing as Portsmouth have just announced that they have yet another new owner I have a natural point to start with. You’ve got to feel sorry for Pompey being passed around like a hot potato. They’re a fairly amiable club to all bar Southampton and their plight is a grievance to many. I’ve lost count of the amount of owners they’ve had since the turn of the century and it only seems to be getting worse for them with the winding up order due on the 10th February. Four times the wages have been paid late this season and they’re rooted to the bottom of the table 6 points from safety. So what has happened since managing to win the FA Cup a couple of years back?

Well as a Gooner I’m pleased to be able to say that it’s all Tottenham’s fault. The luck began to turn as soon as Harry Redknapp went to the other team in North London. The legend that is Tony Adams was promoted in October 2008 and he did the best he could. Sadly for all his leadership skills as a captain and maybe even a coach, Tone is not a manager. They couldn’t get past the group stage of the UEFA Cup and they relenquished their title of FA Cup holders in only the 4th round. A takeover by Sulaiman Al Fahim ensued and the financial difficulties became more apparent. Players were sold and the Pompey team became a shadow of their former selves. The club was sold on once more to Ali Al Faraj in October and then the wages were being paid on an irregular basis. Finally the club was sold again today to Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai who admitted to only being in charge until the finances are secure and a new owner could be found. The reason for this is that Chainrai provided the loan for the previous owner to take charge and he has exercised a clause that lets him take over due to the financial situation.

The problems don’t end there though. The squad is depleted and there’s a real battle to keep them in the Premiership. Now it’s become apparent the manager in the brothel was none other than Avram Grant. When will the problems end for Pompey? The first thing they have to do is to get themselves out of the relegation zone. Go down and who knows what beckons for them? It’s a sad fate for a club I have a soft spot for, mostly for it being the Arsenal retirement home but also for the spirit and style of the club. Can’t we swap Bolton or Hull for them instead?

If nothing else it just shows the total disregard for football clubs these days. If Pompey go down it could well be the end for them and who knows who could follow. Despite many a joke it could well be United next. For all the footballing hate I have for them I wouldn’t want them to cease to exist. The rivalry is what makes a football fan tick. Take it away and we’re just a hollow shell. What happens if Abramovich decides he’s bored? Who else is in trouble but are keeping it a secret? For all the hate directed at Wenger on the weekend for the defeat, perhaps he does have the right idea. Keep the club afloat and we’ll be the only ones left competing in a few years if the other clubs don’t sort themselves out. That though would be the footballing apocalypse but is it so far from the possible truth? Who knows but something has to give and maybe Portmouth could end up as the sacrificial lamb that finally shows the Premier League that it is not financially invincible. We’re coming up to 20 years since the English league’s new top division was formed and the money being generated is insane. Perhaps this is what is needed though. UEFA are apparently drawing up new rules to curb club expenditure but will it be too late? How many clubs will disappear? If it does happen then you’ll have a real rant on your hands from me.

Ok sure, that’s a bit of a cheap shot. But, I’d like someone to explain to me exactly how Portsmouth have avoided going into administration and actually how their situation can be improving while a club like Crystal Palace is punished, seemingly at the first offence.

I know Portsmouth have massive debts, you know they have massive debts–about the only people who don’t know seem to care are the Premier League. Oh sure they imposed a transfer embargo but that’s since been lifted, supposedly because the club don’t owe any more money to other clubs. A mere slap on the wrist when faced with the laundry list of financial irresponsibilities going on at the club:

• £60m of debts
• unpaid taxes resulting in winding-up petition by HMRC
• late payment of wages to players & staff on 4 separate occasions this season
• a “missed” payment of £9m to ex-owner Alexandre Gaydamak (still owed £28m by the club)
• a lawsuit by former player Sol Campbell claiming £1.7m in unpaid fees
• withholding of £2m in player sales by the Premier League in order to pay off debts to Chelsea & Watford
• unable to find a buyer

Uh, ok, I think the logical conclusion to this, is the club has no money?! Yet they are allowed to avoid the 10 point deduction that would normally accompany a club who admits to having no money.

Crystal Palace on the other hand have half the amount of debt, around £30m, and seemed to miss on a wage payment once and *bam!* they are forced into administration–a move so surprising it caught their manager off guard. Now you’d think of all people at a club, the manager would have a pretty good idea of what the club’s finances were like–especially during the transfer window.

So let’s see, the Premier League has recently come under a lot of continental scrutiny for its financial greed and over-spending. Specifically, UEFA president Michel Platini has not been shy in voicing his displeasure about the Premier League’s seeming disregard for sensible business.

Now, what would give these critics the ultimate ammunition? I’d say one of the league’s recognizable clubs declaring bankrupt (because they overspent for years, i.e. Utaka’s £80,000 a week wages, typifying what is wrong with the EPL) would do the trick.

With that in mind it’s easy to see why the Premier League would do whatever it took–including turning a blind eye–to avoid letting Portsmouth go under.

–Stéphane F @HotDogFrog

Stoke complete a deal for Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a four-and-a-half-year contract for 3.25m…. From BBC News. Full story

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Stoke complete a deal for Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a four-and-a-half-year contract for 3.25m…. From BBC News. Full story

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Manchester City close down the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham following victory over Portsmouth, whose problems on and off the field continue to mount…. From BBC News. Full story

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Manchester City close down the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham following victory over Portsmouth, whose problems on and off the field continue to mount…. From BBC News. Full story

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Manchester City close down the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham following victory over Portsmouth, whose problems on and off the field continue to mount…. From BBC News. Full story

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Manchester City close down the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham following victory over Portsmouth, whose problems on and off the field continue to mount…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie reveals tensions within the club’s hierarchy over Younes Kaboul’s possible move to Tottenham…. From BBC News. Full story

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Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie reveals tensions within the club’s hierarchy over Younes Kaboul’s possible move to Tottenham…. From BBC News. Full story

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Well, there’s the biggest collective sighs of relief from the Pompey fans’ all season, as the club’s transfer embargo has been partially lifted by the Premier League.

Portsmouth's Hermann Hriedarsson

The act enables the South Coast side to bring in loan players and free transfers as the side battle against relegation from the Premier League.

It’s thought Jamie O’Hara will be the first man through the revolving door at Fratton Park, the man who’d already spent five months on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rumours were rife that another Spurs player, Geovanni Dos Santos, was set to join the blues but for reports coming out of White Hart Lane to contradict, stating a loan move to Turkish side Fenerbache was more likely.

Takeover talk is also a major talking point still at the Frogmore road offices, with Colonel Gaddafi’s son linked with a shock approach for the club.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Portsmouth Football Club, but at least for now a ray of hope has been shon apon the Blue Army…

We’ve all seen the FA Cup draw against ‘them down the road’, but it’s tomorrow’s game that has all the significance for Portsmouth’s fans’, and the club’s future..

Portsmouth striker John Utaka

The Fratton Park faithful entertain a West Ham United side buoyed on by new finances and new hope, stark contrast yet again to that of the hosts, whose financial plight has been an ongoing media topic for the past few months, and seemingly isn’t going to stop any time soon.

The Irons’ have had a second dawn in recent times, as David Gold and David Sullivan purchased 50% of the club’s shares, resulting in obtaining full control. The Londoners find themselves 16th in the Barclay’s Premier League table, five placesabove their counterparts in what some are calling a ‘Debt Derby’.

Reference to this, of course, is the fact that West Ham United are reportedly a whopping £170Million in debt, yet still have no form of transfer embargo or reprimanding from the Premier League on them, which certainly gets my back up…  Perhaps Trevor Brooking’s had a say in it? I’m sure we’ll never find out.

Very much a ‘backs against the wall’ atmosphere inside Fortress Fratton of late, with little signs of being able to bring new faces into the club meaning that manager Avram Grant is forced to pick faces forgotten, including the rejuvenation of a certain Angelos Basinas in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Greek international midfielder was used as a substitute, coming on and showing a performance of great promise, looking a player who wants to play for the club and help them push on, and not just play and hope their wages get in on time. *Cough, David James*.

A late call-up for another forgotten man, David Nugent, could happen also if the Premier League deadline exceeds that of Burnley’s kick-off time against Bolton Wanderers, meaning that the Everton-born striker could be set to rejoin his parent club, in the ambition of keeping them in the Premier League, giving back some of ‘that’ £6Million transfer fee from Preston North End two-and-a-half years ago.

Recent results for the two sides are also very good, having picked up a couple of wins and a couple of draws each, much better than their closest rivals in Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers, adding significance to this already ever-important affair.

It’s definitely going to be a scorching atmosphere on and off the pitch, with further protests organised by Pompey fans’, as well as the match itself being a real six-pointed in the relegation battle. For Portsmouth anyway, a win is ever the more crucial, as although it can’t lift them off the foot of the league, a win plus another in the rearranged fixture against Birmingham City would put them on equal points with West Ham, outside of the relegation places.