Portsmouth handed transfer embargo by Premier League until further notice

28 October 2009 12:15
With Portsmouth failing to pay their players on time last month and still owing money to other clubs, the Premier League has taken action ahead of pay-day at Fratton Park on Friday. [LNB]The matter is understood to have come to a head earlier this week when Portsmouth lined up free-agent Eugen Bopp as an emergency signing for Tuesday night's Carling Cup match against Stoke City. [LNB]Policeman suspected of Sol Campbell racist abuseManager Paul Hart had worked with the Ukrainian-born German midfielder at Nottingham Forest and had invited him to Fratton Park on a trial over the summer. However, the league made it clear to Portsmouth that they could not take on further financial liabilities even a free agent until they settle their debts. [LNB]"This concerns unpaid money to other clubs and it is in the process of being sorted," said Portsmouth spokesman Gary Double. "We are confident the situation will be sorted by the end of the week." [LNB]With ongoing uncertainty surrounding the wealth and intentions of new owner Ali al-Faraj, it remains possible that the league's transfer ban could last into the crucial January transfer window. [LNB]Faraj is still yet to attend a match at Portsmouth and, as recently as Monday, Hart had admitted that he had never spoken with the Saudi property developer. [LNB]Mark Jacob, Faraj's lawyer, has been accompanied at Portsmouth's last two matches by businessmen Balram Chainrai and Levi Kushnir, with the club hoping to confirm new investment by the end of the week. [LNB]The latest twist comes amid a week of claim and counter-claim over an interview that Faraj gave to a Saudi newspaper. Faraj only became Portsmouth owner earlier this month following Sulaiman al-Fahim's bizarre 41-day stint at the helm. [LNB]However, the depth of Portsmouth's financial difficulties became apparent when it emerged that acquiring a 90 per cent stake had cost him nothing as it simply involved taking over the club's debt. His first job as owner was to settle an outstanding £1.8 million wage-bill. [LNB]He then swiftly appointed Avram Grant, the former Chelsea manager, as director of football without consulting Hart about the idea. [LNB]'When I bought Portsmouth I made it clear I would stay in the background and allow a management team to run the club headed up by chief executive Peter Storrie," said Faraj. "This acquisition is entirely separate to my other businesses and I didn't purchase the club intent on having to justify my actions or fall under public scrutiny. [LNB]"I didn't buy Portsmouth on a whim. My interest in the club has manifested itself over a period of time and I never intended to make a quick investment and get out. I'll be applying some of my business expertise and investing money to bring stability. [LNB]"I think the former owner, Sulaiman Al-Fahim, realised the precarious position he was in when he was unable to secure funding in time to save the club and a deal was very quickly agreed. And one of the reasons I made immediate changes to the board and brought in Avram Grant was to assure people that I was serious about the club. As it is, I watch all Portsmouth games at home and it's my intention to come to the club in the next few weeks. [LNB]"There has been far too much uncertainty surrounding the club. Obviously staying in the Premier League is the main priority, but there are other issues that must be addressed. One of them will be funding to strengthen in January. [LNB]"Money will be made available, but based on the assessment of the playing staff by Paul Hart and Avram Grant it's likely we'll only bring in three or four players in key areas."[LNB]

Source: Telegraph