Portsmouth plight won't give Blues reprieve

11:45am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport By Andy Carswell

Portsmouth plight won't give Blues reprieve Portsmouth plight won't give Blues reprieve

WANDERERS will not be given a reprieve from relegation in the event of Portsmouth going bust, the Football League has confirmed.

Supporters' group SOS Pompey said this week the financially troubled south coast club are weeks away from going out of business.

Blues fans had hoped the problems at Fratton Park could work to their advantage and the their side would be reinstated to League One after being relegated last season. Wanderers finished fourth from bottom - the highest placed of the demoted teams - putting them in the leading position for a possible reprieve.

But the Football League has dashed those hopes after confirming that, in the event of the 2008 FA Cup winners folding, League One would simply carry on with 23 teams. One fewer team would then be relegated from the third the following season.

Recently Dundee were given a place in the Scottish Premier League after Rangers were demoted to the Third Division as punishment for their financial woes.

That came despite the fixture lists for next season already being published, but the same situation will not happen south of the border.

There is no promotion and relegation between the Scottish Third Division and the junior league set up, making it less problematic to move teams between the divisions to accommodate Rangers.

Portsmouth currently only have eight senior players but still need to reduce their wage bill in a bid to avoid being liquidated.

They still have several high earners left on their books from their recent Premiership days, with defender Tal Ben Haim reportedly being paid £36,000 a week.

Comments (4)

12:09pm Tue 24 Jul 12

tagfcuk says...

I don't think it is fair to say that "Blues fans had hoped the problems at Fratton Park could work to their advantage...". I don't know any Wycombe fans that hope Portsmouth goes out of business. We have been in a pretty bleak place ourselves for a while and are not out of the woods yet. Hope Pompy survive for the fans that are so loyal to their club regardless of ownership competence and honesty.
I don't think it is fair to say that "Blues fans had hoped the problems at Fratton Park could work to their advantage...". I don't know any Wycombe fans that hope Portsmouth goes out of business. We have been in a pretty bleak place ourselves for a while and are not out of the woods yet. Hope Pompy survive for the fans that are so loyal to their club regardless of ownership competence and honesty. tagfcuk

12:36pm Tue 24 Jul 12

brizzlewanderer says...

Who are these fans who are hoping Portsmouth go out of business, exactly? Certainly nobody I know. What a crass insinuation. I've come to expect a bit more from the BFP.
Who are these fans who are hoping Portsmouth go out of business, exactly? Certainly nobody I know. What a crass insinuation. I've come to expect a bit more from the BFP. brizzlewanderer

10:39am Wed 25 Jul 12

techsture says...

I hope they go bust. Football needs a lesson. First on the agenda should be the stripping of the FA cup they bought. Food riddance pompy
I hope they go bust. Football needs a lesson. First on the agenda should be the stripping of the FA cup they bought. Food riddance pompy techsture

10:05am Thu 26 Jul 12

M40 says...

Football clubs like others are part of the community, if a community group with over 100 years history goes it will leave a void that is difficult to replace.
I would say 99.9% of Wycombe fans are wishing Portsmouth well for the sake of their supporters, Pompey have the fan base to start again.
Wimbledon supporters went back to square one after their club was smuggled away and dumped in Miton Keynes, they have done great getting as far as they have to date AFC Wimbledon is again alive and kicking, with the fan base they have Portsmouth could start again forming a club controlled by the supporters.
Good luck to them.
Bucks Free Press PLEASE ONLY PRINT THE TRUTH.

Any apology for the BFP misquoting Wycombe fans Mr Cohan?

Some may have said if Pompey fold Wanderers may not be relegated but that is different to eagerly welcoming their demise.
Football clubs like others are part of the community, if a community group with over 100 years history goes it will leave a void that is difficult to replace. I would say 99.9% of Wycombe fans are wishing Portsmouth well for the sake of their supporters, Pompey have the fan base to start again. Wimbledon supporters went back to square one after their club was smuggled away and dumped in Miton Keynes, they have done great getting as far as they have to date AFC Wimbledon is again alive and kicking, with the fan base they have Portsmouth could start again forming a club controlled by the supporters. Good luck to them. Bucks Free Press PLEASE ONLY PRINT THE TRUTH. Any apology for the BFP misquoting Wycombe fans Mr Cohan? Some may have said if Pompey fold Wanderers may not be relegated but that is different to eagerly welcoming their demise. M40

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