Source: Daily_Mail
Pompey saved! But does anyone know who Ali Abdullah Al Faraj actually is?
Pompey saviour: Ali Abdullah Al Faraj[LNB]If Portsmouth werekeen to find an owner who isthe very antithesis of theself-promoting Sulaiman AlFahim then it appears theyhave hit the jackpot in moreways than one when it comes toAli Abdullah Al Faraj. [LNB]The Saudi property investor takes theconcept of low-profile to a whole newlevel. [LNB]Even the Premier League have yetto meet the man who has alreadypassed their fit and proper persons test. [LNB]All Al Faraj needed to demonstrate tobe welcomed into English football wasthat he is allowed to own a company, hasno history of insolvency, has not beenconvicted for theft or fraud and is notinvolved with another football club. [LNB]Mysterious owners are becoming aheadache for the Premier League. Theyhave refused to ratify Carson Yeung'stakeover of Birmingham City until theyare satisfied the club's prospectiveinvestors have nothing to hide. [LNB]Basic details regarding 40-year-oldAl Faraj did, at least, begin to filterthrough last night as the only knownpicture of him was released bythe club. [LNB]He is married with twochildren and comes from a large familyof eight brothers and two sisters. One ofthose brothers, Ahmed, is understoodto be part of Falcondrone Limited, thecompany which has obtained a 90 percent stake in the club. [LNB]Al Faraj's occupation between 1990 and2005 is listed as personal manager forRiyadh company Saudi Uniform Manufacture. [LNB]Next came property investmentcompany Easyway Limited, with interestsin Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.That, however, was as much asAl Faraj's lawyer, Mark Jacob, was lettingon. [LNB] Deal: Al Fahim sold a 90 per cent in the Fratton Park club to Al Faraj[LNB]Sportsmail contacted super-agentPini Zahavi, who is understood to haveintroduced Al Faraj to Portsmouth chiefexecutive Peter Storrie. [LNB]Again themessage was that Al Faraj remainscontent to remain in the background. [LNB] For Portsmouth fans, perhaps all thatreally matters is whether their newowner has the funds to ensure that theycan first survive and then grow. As thecase of Al Fahim shows, to pass thePremier League fit and proper personstest you do not need to prove you havemoney. [LNB]But Storrie is confident there will be money to strengthen the squad inJanuary and that plans for a new trainingground and the redevelopment ofFratton Park will come back on stream. [LNB]Al Faraj has not had to shell out for his90 per cent stake after Al Fahim confirmedyesterday he had handed themajority of his share for nothing, butthere was the small matter of taking onboard an estimated £20million debt plus£15m immediate running costs. [LNB]Portsmouth fans will be hopeful suchamounts represent mere pocket changeto their new owner. Time will have totell, because Al Faraj is not going to.[LNB] Ukraine v England live! Sign up to watch the match with MailOnline Saudi takeover saves the day as Al Fahim's doomed Pompey reign ends Portsmouth players paid at last: New man Al Faraj moves quickly over wages Ali Al Faraj promises Paul Hart a January spending spree to keep Portsmouth in the Premier League PORTSMOUTH FC
