Source: Daily_Mail
Crisis club Portsmouth face certain relegation after nine-point deduction
Portsmouth have been deducted nine points after HM Revenue and Customs dropped their legal challenge to the club entering administration.[LNB] HMRC ended its challenge to Portsmouth's on Tuesday and the Premier League board met on Wednesday to ratify the nine-point deduction imposed on clubs forced to call inadministrators. [LNB]The penalty will leave FA Cup semi-finalists Pompey with just 10 points - 17 from safety - with nine games to play.[LNB] On target: Fernando Torres scored in Liverpool's 4-1 win over Pomepy [LNB]A Premier League statement read: 'Following the High Court's decisionthat Portsmouth FC's administration is valid the Premier League board convened today to apply the League's rules and policies in relation to amember club suffering an event of insolvency.[LNB]'As a result Portsmouth FC has been deducted nine points with immediate effect. 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.'[LNB]Although relegation from the Barclays Premier League appears certain,it is seen as a positive development at a time when a proposed takeoverbid front by millionaire Rob Lloyd has moved a significant step forward. [LNB]Portsmouth administrator: Andrew Andronikou[LNB][LNB]Lloyd was at Anfield to see Pompey beaten 4-1 by Liverpoolon Monday and met with the club's administrator Andrew Andronikou afterthe game. [LNB]'He expressed his interest on behalf of the group and we agreed away to take it forward,' said Andronikou, who is seeking to exitadministration in 'six to eight weeks'. [LNB]'We have to take the proposal at face value and put behind us thefact that his interest was first declared in the press. We got off onthe wrong foot but hopefully we can work towards a deal that securesthe future of the club. We are going to take a measured approach andthe right guy.' [LNB]The identity of Lloyd's financial backers are unknown but he mustreveal their identity to Andronikou and the Premier League before anytakeover can go through. Premier League rules on ownership are morestringent than the Football League, where both Leeds United and NottsCounty have failed to provide precise details of who owns them.[LNB]'There will have to be more clarity about his backers before the middle of next week," said Andronikou.[LNB]'I have asked to know who the owners would be. It is part of a bundle of information I need to see. We need the whole picture. [LNB]'There has been no exclusivity granted to any party at this point.It is something we discussed and they seem keen to put it in place. Butwe have to tick all the boxes first. I don't expect to be announcingany new investors within the next week or so.'[LNB] GRAHAM POLL: Warning to Gerrard... clean up or you're next England villain High Court give green light to crisis club Portsmouth over administrationLiverpool 4 Portsmouth 1: Benitez's men get back on goal standardPORTSMOUTH FC
