Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth hold talks with Russian millionaire
Portsmouth could become the latest club to have Russian owners after holding takeover talks with a wealthy Moscow banker. [LNB]Millionaire Vladimir Antonov is heading up consortium Convers Sport Initiative (CSI) who are bidding to take control at Fratton Park.[LNB] CSI, linked with Ferrari Russia and the Spartak Moscow ice hockey team, failed with a bid to buy Pompey's south coast rivals Bournemouth last year. [LNB] Fall from grace: Portsmouth are currently 20th in the Championship [LNB]Co-owner Chris Asker said: 'We have held talks with Portsmouth FC.'[LNB] In 2007 Antonov was named as one of Russia's 200th wealthiest businessman and is a majority shareholder in a Lithuanian bank. [LNB]Antonov added: 'If we do acquire control of a football club, we will dedicate our collective knowledge, skills, contacts and appropriate resources to make the chosen football club successful. 'This will always be our priority. [LNB]The news is a welcome surprise for Portsmouth fans, who took to the streets before Saturday's 1-1 draw with Derby to protest against current owner Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai. [LNB] Portsmouth 1 Derby 1: Nugent stuns Rams with late equaliser QPR 2 Portsmouth 0: Taarabt turns roaming Ranger as promotion beckons [LNB] [LNB]
