Portsmouth’s joint-administrator Trevor Birch has said that there is a very real chance that Pompey might not be able to fulfil this season’s Championship fixtures. If that’s the case, the games Portsmouth have played would be removed from the record with the Blues, who beat the Hampshire side both home and away, losing six points.

That would see the Blues drop two places to 18th with 34 points six points off relegation in the 23-team division from which two clubs would go into League One at the end of the season.

Birch, who works for accountancy firm PKF, said in a statement: “Following our discussions with the Premier League and Football League over the past few days, it has emerged that Portsmouth Football Club is unlikely to receive any further parachute payments or other league funding.

“We had previously stated that there was a real danger of the club running out of cash before the end of the season. The risk of this happening increases substantially without the money from the football authorities. Unless something significant happens, there is a real possibility that we may not be able to fulfil the season’s fixtures.

“One potential issue appears to come from the assignment of £2.2 million of parachute payments that was made by the old company to a previous owner. We have instructed lawyers to challenge this, but the process may take time.

“The club is also still owed nearly £300,000 by the CSI administrators and their lawyers, who are withholding the funds as payment for their work in applying to court for administration. PKF is talking to its lawyers to see if this money can be returned to the club.

“Despite the tremendous support that we’ve received from everyone involved with Portsmouth Football Club, it seems that the club isn’t getting any of the breaks that it needs. The more we uncover, the worse the picture appears to get.

“The only consolation I can give supporters, staff and players at the moment is that my PKF colleagues and I have not given up hope and will continue to do all we can to save the club. But the clock is ticking.

“We are looking at all possible options for raising further revenues in the very short term but we realise that there is only so much that can be realistically achieved. We will update you on the situation as often as we can, but keep in mind that the situation will change on a daily basis.”

One of those options for raising cash is likely to be selling players, something which may be of interest to the Blues who made offers for defender Jason Pearce, midfielder or defender Joel Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson in January.

Town’s bid for Pearce was turned down, while offers for Ward and Henderson were accepted close to the deadline with the Blues refusing to agree to the pair’s “excessive” personal terms.

Photo: Action Images

mwhitfc added 15:27 - Mar 1 Would be such a shame to see them go out of business, they have not had the best of luck at all probably since the point when they reached the cup final! Good luck to the administrators in trying to save them
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rosseden added 15:28 - Mar 1 i wonder how the players who could have been realistic about terms are feeling now. They put unrealistic demands on the table, to stay and play for their beloved club, who might not exist within a matter of weeks...... whereas if theyd agreed to move on, their club would be in a much better situation...... must be a serious conflict in their own heads...... oh well......

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AndyUK61873 added 15:28 - Mar 1 Well losing 6 points would not be good....only us and West Ham have taken 6pts of them this season.... If they dropped out would the relegation number go to 2 teams instead of 3?
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AndyUK61873 added 15:31 - Mar 1 Off the teams below us this is what i see as dropping points Bristol City - 1 Peterboro - 3 Watford - 3 Millwall - 3
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Michael11 added 15:36 - Mar 1 Sod Pompey they had their chance to make money, don't remember us being able to say no to a shockingly low £2m bid for Darren Bent, Matt Holland, Hermann Hreidarsson etc when we were in administration! All I care about is the 6 points we'd lose!
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cornishnick added 15:37 - Mar 1 Have sympathy for the fans, but not the club. All of their own doing I'm afraid. They were effectively cheating by offering some of the wages they did, knowing they couldn't afford them. The money they offered Chuck for instance, blew other teams out of the water. The likes of Kitson and Lawrence, too, on £20k a week. Crazy.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 15:45 - Mar 1 No sympathy at all, Michael11 has it spot on.
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bluewein added 15:46 - Mar 1 How is that fair exactly? What about the teams they've beaten and drawn against? Do they get their points back? Balls to them, if they can't handle their money..AGAIN, then they should be the only ones who get punished, not every one who worked hard to get the points on the board!!!
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Essexnblue added 15:47 - Mar 1 Just blame the management of this club, since Redknapp started playing major salaries to minor players, the club has gone through the ringer. With Ben haim on 41k per week no wonder they are bankrupt. Then you get players persuaded by agents to stay with there beloved club by demanding outrageous salaries, I am sorry but mismanagement is the only word to describe PFC. Doesnt it make you feel proud to have Evans, as we could be in a similar position without him.

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AndyUK61873 added 15:51 - Mar 1 @Bluewin....it applies to anybody that has gained points from them this season....if a team lost to them there is no point impact to that team as it will be Portsmouth that have the points deducted getting them to a 0 result (actually -10) for going into administration on the final table at the end of the season.
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MattinLondon added 15:52 - Mar 1 They went in administration previously and did not learn from that lesson. They offered wages to players that they could not afford and then went back into administration. Football clubs aren't seen as special cases anymore by the taxman and so unless clubs get their finances in order a lot more clubs will fax the real threat of liquidation
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 16:02 - Mar 1 i am disliking pompey more and more....feel sorry for the fans though
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omuircheartaigh added 16:13 - Mar 1 From a footballing perspective, it is very sad to read about the possible end for any club. Given their position, even if they cling on until season's end, one can imagine how damaging relegation would be for them. From our own purely selfish point of view, losing 6 points would not be welcome. Hopefully football comes to terms with the needs for financial balance. It does seem like they need to get transfer fees now for players that will "transfer" in the Summer. I've obviously no idea if we'll go back in for either of the 3 amigos but if we're still interested, it sounds like it Portsmouth would be glad to hear! If any approaches are made, by us or anyone else, hopefully they will be done appropriately.

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nbsiyag added 16:15 - Mar 1 Essexnblue - Financial carnage seems to follow in the wake of wherever Redknapp goes! Spurs fans however all seem to be confident that Levy has all under control. Only time will tell!
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TractorMan added 16:34 - Mar 1 So, say Pompey get their money, fulfil their fixtures but at the same time stay up. How is that fair to the clubs around them who they would relegate, who may have played within the rules? The money is only going to the old owner as they were the rules of the administration before. Pompey knew this and the fact the CSI administrator is demanding £300k for putting them in administration says it all. Horrible for the fans, but this club should fold now and disappear. They can start again like others have at the bottom of the non-league ladder.

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PauloJulio added 16:36 - Mar 1 Could of been worse, at least their chairman wasn't Peter Ridsdale!
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Surco72 added 16:43 - Mar 1 Dont feel anything for them they delayed the selling of players ,refused to sell Pearce thinking they would find a backer and are now paying the price for that gamble . Loyalty from the players sadly misplaced and will now cost them ,as it will greedy Mr Norris ,wheres your long term contract and better wages now ?
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WadeyBlue added 16:43 - Mar 1 Couldnt give a shiney sh1te about them to be honest. They've had chances to sort themselves out. At least now we might get new players at cut price. About time we shafted someone, instead of taking it ourselves.
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riley26 added 16:45 - Mar 1 Why on earth did they not sell players!!! Sell some quality players, risk relegation but still have a club, or be stubborn and possibly cease to exist 6 weeks later, utter madness!!! Terrible for the fans, and football in general, it shouldn't happen.
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davetheblue added 16:56 - Mar 1 make them play there remaining games over the park with a few local lads!!
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Sindre94 added 17:03 - Mar 1 No chance pompey, finish it, you had your chance to FORCE your players out of the club, WHY didnt they explain the situation for henderson ward and pearce? "we need you to go because we wont survive unless" Ridiculous by pompey, such a shame for us if this happens
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Sindre94 added 17:05 - Mar 1 and yes, thank you marcus evans, I think you are underestimated by too many of ours fans.
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Sparky85 added 17:34 - Mar 1 Hate to see this happen to any football club, i as a fan remember what its like to have an uncertain future and see quality players leave for nothing. But as many people said they had the chance in the summer to get money in the bank and didn't take it. Would like to see PJ get the chosen 3 loaned in with agreed transfer fees. They are not in a position to turn it down and we could have the team gelling before the end of the season. Makes sense

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GTRKing added 17:35 - Mar 1 Well they should of learnt there lesson now lets see if any of those players are loyal to the club. they should go to the bottom of the football league & keep same ground & same name & make there way back up to the championship.
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BudapestByBlimp added 17:41 - Mar 1 Some of the senior squad players wouldn't want to leave, they can publicly claim loyalty to the club (whether it's genuine or not) and stay on good wages. If Pompey fold they get a free transfer and therefore can negotiate a higher wage with a new club than if they'd been transferred for a fee. It's the poor admin staff, trainees, ground staff, supporters etc that I feel sorry for. Still wouldn't want to see them go out of business, but they must be punished for living beyond their means.

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