Talks between Portsmouth and a South African consortium interested in buying the club have been taking place in London today and it was hoped that a deal could be concluded, but there is no definite news yet. What is unclear is whether the required money is available and it is important to make sure of that given previous disappointments with new owners at the beleaguered club.
Talks between Portsmouth and a South African consortium interested in buying the club have been taking place in London today and it was hoped that a deal could be concluded, but there is no definite news yet. What is unclear is whether the required money is available and it is important to make sure of that given previous disappointments with new owners at the beleaguered club.
Chief executive Peter Storrie told the BBC, ‘We need to have it from the bank, we need to see that the funds are there and that they can take it forward. We need to see it, the Premier League need to see it, everybody needs to see that there are funds there. The bank information will come through their lawyers, proof of funds from their banks to Balraim Chainrai’s lawyers and if that happens the phone call will come and we will be all systems go on Monday night.’
Storrie said that there were other investment possibilities if the Springbok deal did not come off: ‘We have other irons in the fire and other options are available. There is another group, not as advanced as the South African group, but they could be very quickly.’
Portsmouth fans have reacted with understandable caution to an offer from Sulaiman al Fahim to give his 10 per cent residual shareholding to the club’s Supporters’ Trust. Read more here.
The latest word on Tuesday morning is that Pompey are in talks with three groups of prospecrive buyers, but nothing will be settled until the weekend which is when Pompey play what might be their last game against Burnley at Turf Moor.