Pompey await deduction
League chiefs will meet administrator Andrew Andronikou ahead of a board meeting today where the points deduction is expected to be rubber-stamped.
He will also update the league on a proposed bid for the club by a group of unknown investors being fronted by property developer Rob Lloyd, best known for an appearance on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire.
Andronikou met Lloyd following Portsmouth’s defeat at Liverpool on Monday night and told the Cheshire-based businessman he needs to see proof of funds before taking any offer seriously.
The fact that the investors’ identities are being kept under wraps – Lloyd is not putting any money in himself – and that the takeover would be underwritten by a New York-based hedge fund has set alarm bells ringing, including with Pompey’s current owner Balu Chainrai. It is believed at least some of the consortium include South African investors who had expressed interest in buying the club from Chainrai before he decided to put it into administration but failed to demonstrate proof of funds in time.
Andronikou said he was “pretty confident” of taking the club out of administration within six to eight weeks. Portsmouth will get access to £5m from the Premier League between now and the end of the season, and £16m in the close season as the ‘parachute payment’ for the now certain relegation.
Meanwhile, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard will not face action from the Football Association following his second-half clash with Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has received positive news over Tom Huddlestone’s ankle injury following a second scan on the midfielder’s damaged ligaments while Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson was yesterday ruled out for up to four weeks after tearing a calf muscle against Spurs on Saturday.
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