Pompey nine point penalty confirmed
Reuters - Wednesday 17 March 2010, 11:13
LONDON - Portsmouth face almost certain
relegation from the English Premier League after being docked
nine points on Wednesday for going into administration last
month.
The debt-laden south-coast club are the first Premier League
team to suffer a points penalty for entering administration.
They now have just 10 points and are 17 points adrift of the
safety zone with just nine games remaining.
"Following the High Court's decision that Portsmouth FC's
administration is valid the Premier League Board convened today
to apply the League's rules and policies in relation to a member
club suffering an event of insolvency," a League statement said.
"As a result Portsmouth FC has been deducted nine points
with immediate effect."
The nine-point deduction had been delayed while Portmsouth's
move into voluntary administration was formally validated - a
situation resolved in the High Court on Tuesday when a winding
up order against the club was suspended.
"As part of this process the Board met with the
Administrator to agree how we will work together for the
remainder of the season to ensure that the club is able fulfil
its commitments," the Premier League said.
Administrator Andrew Andronikou, who is trying to rescue the
troubled club, met with the League Board on Wednesday.
Last week Portsmouth, which has debts of about 78 million
pounds and has failed to pay players' wages
several times this season, axed 85 jobs.
Andronikou said on Tuesday he hoped Portsmouth could come
out of administration in "six to eight weeks". Failure to do so
by the end of the season could trigger a 10-point deduction in
the Championship next season.
Portsmouth, beaten 4-1 at Liverpool in the league on Monday,
have reached the FA Cup semi-finals where they will play
Tottenham Hotspur or Fulham at Wembley Stadium in April.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook