Pompey players go unpaid

Premier League's rock-bottom club continues to struggle financially

Last updated: 4th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pompey players go unpaid
A proportion of their wages will be paid tomorrow (Friday) with the club's new owners working towards paying the remainder over the next few days.

Portsmouth FC
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Portsmouth have confirmed that the majority of their first-team players have not been paid for the month of November.

The news, originally broken by Sky Sports News, comes as the latest controversy to hit the Premier League's bottom club and it is understood a religious festival in Saudi Arabia has slowed the payments.

A delay, though, is a repeat of events seen at the end of September when Pompey admitted their players had not received wages, blaming 'a delay in the transfer of funds' following Sulaiman Al-Fahim's takeover.

The club subsequently handed over the money owed to their squad, but Al-Fahim still struggled financially and Ali Al-Faraj bought the majority ownership at the start of October.

Pompey have now verified that players have again gone unpaid, with a short statement saying: "Portsmouth FC can confirm that the majority of the first- team squad have not yet received their November salaries.

Confusion

"A proportion of their wages will be paid tomorrow (Friday) with the club's new owners working towards paying the remainder over the next few days."

Confusion has continued to surround Fratton Park and fees are still owed to the likes of Chelsea for the signings of players such as Glen Johnson, who has since moved on to Liverpool, which earned a transfer embargo.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor is concerned by the fact that players have gone unpaid, telling Sky Sports News: "You can understand much better problems in the Football League and lower down.

"Chester City, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Watford - players have shown a great deal of solidarity and sympathy and understanding and deferred wages.

"But if that is happening in the Premier League I'm sure it is not good for the image of the game and if it is the case it is not going to be highly thought of at the headquarters of the Premier League either.

"There can't be any good reason in the Premier League with the money they enjoy from television income alone, never mind sponsorship.

"That is what life is about in football, paying wages of the players.

"I thought this had been solved with the change of ownership at the club a few weeks ago. We had this earlier in the season."

Comments (34)

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Colin Mitchell (Portsmouth fan) says...

yes most of the pompey fans were very happy to see saints go down by losing games but most pompey fans were not happy to see them religated due to the incompetance of their chairman and their boards attitude towards their money dealings no team deserves that to happen your all condeming pompey but just keep looking over your shoulder because it can happen to any team in the prem look at man u just pulled out of a deal for a player cos they aint got the finnances to do it . and sorry wesley millington of man u your comments much appreciated as for the stoke fans lose one rory delap ur going to drop like a stone pompey only owe so we are told approx 20mill and thats only because our old owner said that all debts of the club were his and his alone and he would be taking them with him we got you the fa cup /top ten finish and then i take it you got bored with the toy daddy bought you so nobody was going to play with it so tou sold it from under ie the players from under the fans that had supported you harry and the players id like to finish by saying thank you to all of the other teams fans for their support and hope it does not happen to their team money talks hope saints continue to do well play up pompey and saints

Posted 15:01 4th December 2009

Karl Hodgkins says...

To be honest after watching the game on tuesday their performance did not deserve paying for. I am starting to get numb to the constant bad news coming out of Pompey, am resigned to the fac that we will probably get relgated ad probaly go into administration sometime in the new year. All the same come next season in the championship I will still be going to watch Pompey at FP. PUP

Posted 14:14 4th December 2009

Nick Gibson (Southampton fan) says...

Despite being a saints fan, i do have some sympathy with the pompey fans. This mess isnt their fault, yet they suffer like we have over the past couple of years. The people that cause these problems at every club ( the board ) seem to not suffer any punishment, the fans are the only ones that continually suffer. Having said that, i won't lose any sleep if pompey get relegated/docked points as their fans were hardly sympathetic to our fall from the prem. Would be nice to have the derby games again, not that Hampshire police would agree.

Posted 13:40 4th December 2009

Andy Horlock says...

Chester City, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Watford are all showing solidarity - but hang on a moment those are all from the lower divisions, Portsmouth are a Premiership club owned by a bunch of oil rich sheiks - how can this have happened - perhaps they need to fund a Russian Mafia boss like Chelsea did!

Posted 13:13 4th December 2009

Jason Messingham (Portsmouth fan) says...

I will be the first to admit that on first impressions this does not look good. But let's not take it out of proportion. It takes time for a new owner to organise finance, it very rarely comes out of their own pockets - but more from assets in which they own such as shares. It will take time to calculate how much money is required (alot!) and will need to liaise with shareholders to extract the cash at the best price. If we can get the finance organised in the next few days and have a few million for player transfers in January I'll be content. PFC's days of buying players we can not afford are over until we can get a new stadium that will fund their wages (Portsmouth council have not helped the club on this one - refusing planing permission, after planning permission on minor factors). Although only a few could predict the global recession, It was Peter Storrie's role at the club to be aware of the finances and in particular the risk in the levels of debt the club had. Although PFC might not of had the largest debts, when you look at the ratio: debt to annual revenue I would say PFC's would be one of the highest. Why because everyone at the club fell under the charms of Harry, always wanting more players that we couldn't afford. But the owner, Storrie and fans were happy to continue. Would the fans of been so willing knowing the levels of debt the club were going in too? The result: Harry could and did up and leave when he realised he could not have his way (money and being a prospect for the England job), and so did the owner - leaving the debt. So who does it leave clearing up the mess year after year - the fans, storie, and Mr Faraj so we all need to stick together. I just want clarity and stability for the rest of the season, finances sorted i.e. all debts paid, solid plans for the future - i.e. ongoing investment in the youth development, plans for a new stadium with realistic timeframes.

Posted 13:04 4th December 2009

Richard Bassett says...

The Stoke and Birmingham fans saying Portsmouth are not premiership quality when u don't have any yourself there only 6 teams in the premiership that have high quality. Also Portsmouth have been playing some good football and have been unlucky at the moment and with the situation there in. If they keep playing with the same style and believe in them selves I can't see Portsmouth getting relegated. Also Portsmouth are one team I like to watch play football and for the low quality boring football in the premiership (Stoke & Birmingham) I wouldn't go to watch you even if you paid me.

Posted 12:12 4th December 2009

Manufan Mcdonald says...

It is true that there has been a religious festival, and I can vouch for the chaos it has caused! Even our business was affected by the delays. That said, it is worrying that they have to rely on th enew man's money to pay the bills - Pompey are better than that with fantaastic fans.Hope you get it sorted guys!

Posted 11:32 4th December 2009

William Farnworth says...

Just another reason why the FA should be charged with neglijience,in allowing takeovers without proper checks. Not the first mistake,Man City comes to mind and the premier Lg should worry with people like these in control. Good luck pompey fans but i would worry for the future of the club with people who cant pay players wages. Wigan Fan

Posted 11:00 4th December 2009

Steve Claridge (Portsmouth fan) says...

It could be worse, you could be a southampton fan

Posted 10:33 4th December 2009

James Davies says...

Loudest fans?? youre having a laugh right? i was at the villa v pompey game in the week in the away end and for most of the game all your fans were silent apart from the wierd bell man! The villa fans brought the noise! Even before kick off! Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! oh what fun it is to see the villa win away! HEY!

Posted 10:18 4th December 2009

0? ? says...

Wow, they have been paid for a month. it must be really hard not getting petrol for their expensive sports cars and their wags not going shopping. honestly who gives a damn about spoilt footballers not getting paid when we are in the middle of a recession.

Posted 10:06 4th December 2009

Sandy Desert (Portsmouth fan) says...

I wouldn't worry too much, they'l get paid eventually. Everything is closed this time of year in the middle east, shops,airports and banks. Its only another little hitch-and it will be fine. We'll be mid table before you know it.

Posted 09:58 4th December 2009

M Smith (Portsmouth fan) says...

This isnt good enough for the loudest and most passionate fans in the country. The board need to give us answers. As for all the stoke and brum fans, when was the last time u won something?? why arent u so vocal inside a football stadium??? our ground may be poor, but least we have an atmosphere

Posted 21:31 3rd December 2009

James Lennon (Southampton fan) says...

Pay Up Pompey! Pompey Pay Up!

Posted 21:23 3rd December 2009

Killian Travers (Liverpool fan) says...

i think its terrible that theses owners are allowed in from the middle east with no proof that they have money there coming in and relying on money the make to pay wages something needs to be done. its not pompey`s fault its the premier leagues i think something has to be done now

Posted 21:20 3rd December 2009

Lee Riddaway (Southampton fan) says...

I cant believe this has happened again after such a short period of time and with a new take over. I love the fact theyre using an excuse saying its because of a religous festival, im sure goings on around the world cant have an affect on standing order payments to players?? all i can do is sit back and watch as pompey continue to slip up and join us in the lower leagues until we surpass them again thanks to our proven billionaire ownership.

Posted 21:17 3rd December 2009

Wesley Millington (Manchester United fan) says...

What a shame, feel for the fans the most. Obviously players are hit hard and its not nice, but hopefully they will get paid soon and with that start winning some points and remain in the prem. If they dont remain in the prem i can't see a bright future for pompey. Im a football fan and hate news like this. P U P

Posted 20:48 3rd December 2009

George English (Newcastle United fan) says...

This situation epitomises the modern game. The small clubs (including Pompey) strive to compete with the big 4 and spend a fortune on wages. Now is the time for the FA to step in and implement a wage structure/ceiling before we get into the situation the Italian league has suffered. Hopefully Pompey supporters will carry on supporting the club but this revenue will never be enough.

Posted 20:28 3rd December 2009

Colin Farmery (Portsmouth fan) says...

The only thing "fit and proper" about Pompey's board is if they earn us a -10 deduction and cause our Transfer Embargo to stand. This is simply shambolic conduct and it is only fair on the other tenants of the league that our relegation is assured early on. Tighter clauses should be placed on the Premier League teams. We need to be more like the Bundesliga, where teams msut trade solvently.

Posted 20:03 3rd December 2009

Jordan Draper (Portsmouth fan) says...

Wow wow wow, don't start blaming the fans here its not us that is the problem of all this farce ! We turn up to matches etc non-stop, we have some of the best fans in the country infact, its the fact that the club has not kept their promises. Where is our new stadium they have promised for YEARS!?Where is our success that they have constantly been assuring us of? We don't deserve to be accused.

Posted 19:37 3rd December 2009
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