Source: Daily_Mail
Close them down! French club call for Pompey to be shut over unpaid debts
Portsmouth failed to pay their players on time again on Thursday just as French club Lens called for them to be shut down if they do not honour their debts.[LNB]For the third time in four months, payday passed without the players receiving their wages, though they have been promised the money will be in their accounts by Tuesday.[LNB]It is a further embarrassment for Pompey, who became the first Barclays Premier League club to be served with a winding-up petition on Wednesday over a £6million tax bill.[LNB] Where's the money gone? Portsmouth players have not been paid on time again[LNB]More problems are beginning to stack up for owner Ali al Faraj andLens president Gervais Mmartel urged the authorities to run them out ofbusiness if they fail to pay fees owed for Aruna Dindane and NadirBelhadj.[LNB]Thankless task: The strain shows on the face of Avram Grant as he watches his side go down to Arsenal on Wednesday night [LNB]Former owner Alexandre Gaydamak, who is owed more than £30m in loansby the club, will also insist an instalment of £9m is paid at the endof this month.[LNB]Martel claims Pompey have slipped behind with instalments on the£4.2m fee for Belhadj and reneged on an agreement to buy £4m-ratedDindane permanently after he had played 11 games of his one-season loandeal.[LNB]'Portsmouth should be treated like Mouscron,' said Martel, referringto the Belgian club who were kicked out of their league last weekbecause of money problems. [LNB]'We can't go on like this with clubs who don't pay their debts.Portsmouth have problems with all the clubs they've bought playersfrom. We feel cheated. '[LNB]Lens have started legal action and vowed to chase Pompey throughFIFA's courtrooms if the money is not forthcoming. [LNB]Martel also warnedhe will take Dindane back to Lens if the deal is broken. Dindane iscurrently at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.[LNB] Trouble ahead: On loan Aruna Dindane could be ordered back by fed-up Lens[LNB][LNB]Gaydamak, who sold Portsmouth to Sulaiman al Fahim in August beforeit was taken over by Al Faraj in October, is the club's biggest singlecreditor. He is due a payment of £9m at the end of January and another£19m in May 2012.[LNB] Main men: Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie (centre) insists owner Ali Al Faraj (left) is doing his best to refinance the club[LNB]He also wants to retrieve £2.5m which he sent to Barclays Bank when Pompey missed a loan repayment in November. [LNB]Hammering: Portsmouth were beaten soundly by Arsenal on Wednesday night[LNB]'I was the guarantor of the loan and when the club didn't pay, the bank came to me and I paid it,' said Gaydamak. [LNB]'I join in the frustration of supporters. I would like to know whothe ultimate beneficiaries of the club are, what their plans are andwhether I am to get paid.'[LNB]These battles come as the club struggles, four points adrift at the foot of the table.[LNB]Leading players like England goalkeeper David James will have to besold this month but it may still not be enough to stave offadministration, or even liquidation.[LNB]As Pompey lost 4-1 at home to Arsenal on Wednesday, home fans turned their anger on the board and Steve Finnan says the unrest is getting to the players.[LNB]'I certainly heard it and most of the players heard it,' said Finnan. [LNB]'They are frustrated like anyone else and you can understand why.They have supported the team a long time. No one seems to know what'sgoing on. [LNB] On the list: David James could head a host of first-team players up for sale[LNB][LNB]'It worries us and it's not nice for the fans. Hopefully it will get resolved but the players have to keep fighting away.'[LNB] More Pompey misery as Lens set to demand the return of on-loan DindaneOn the brink! Tax hit Pompey must sell James and Co to stay in businessBoateng happy to focus on Pompey after Africa Cup of Nations dream failsNo Christmas pay for Portsmouth: Debts mean Pompey must sell their stars just to keep goingPORTSMOUTH FC
