Premier League to hold back £2m Pompey cash

02 February 2010 16:44
The Premier League will hold on to more than £2million from Portsmouth's player sales in January to cover money owed to other clubs as more financial pressure was heaped on the side. Chelsea and Watford will receive cash owed from when financially-stricken Pompey signed Glen Johnson and Tommy Smith respectively. Once the players' wages have been covered, the £4million remainder from the £8million Portsmouth earned from selling defender Younes Kaboul and keeper Asmir Begovic could be an important lifeline. The club will use a chunk of the cash to try to persuade HM Revenue and Customs to reschedule the payments on the £7.5million owed in VAT. However, another creditor has also joined in with HMRC's winding-up petition to the High Court on Wednesday next week. Grosvenor Basingstoke Properties are claiming they are owed money by Portsmouth though that is being disputed by the club.

Source: PA