Pompey Takeover Saga

[jawillwill]

Superb post. For the record id say Saints 27 years in the top flight whilst Pompey languished in the lower leagues cemented a larger fanbase for Saints, I'd say probably 30% more fans likely to attend over a given period of time. I know many of my fellow Pomey on here would not agree, but I really could not care less, it's all just willy waving and which club has the higher % of 'occassionals' Is really of no concern to me and has no bearing on my enjoyment of the game or our rivalry.

Based on fanbase and infrastructure, Pompey are a Mid-Championship side at best and Saints 'Rightful' place (If there is such a thing) is probably bouncing around between the Premier League and the Championship along with, Sheffield Weds, Blackburn and Wolves.

Now if we're going to base it on TROPHIES, Pompey are a Premier Team and Saints are hanging on by the skin of their teeth in the Championship and not fit to mix it with any of the teams i've just mentioned. I guess it all depends on what criteria advantages our respective teams, It explains why Attendance/Infrastructure arguements are always dragged up on here by the Saints majority and trophies and actually winning things are very seldom talked about on here (Except by me and the the other Pompey fans)!

 

Oh yeah, well how many times have Pompey won the Ted Bates Trophy? Not as many us us, thats how much! :cool:

[TopGun]

Now they have employed a convicted fraudster to help with finances... you couldn't make it up!

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/03/portsmouth-debts-transfer-embargo

 

Faraj took control in October, through an investment vehicle Falcondrone Ltd, though there is confusion over the roles of a number of figures said to be connected with him, and the club.

 

Daniel Azougy, a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to five months in prison by the Tel Aviv magistrates court in 2001 and disbarred from practising as a lawyer for 14 years in Israel, has been employed on a short-term contract to "help deal with the club's finances", the club confirmed.

[Sheaf Saint]

Now they have employed a convicted fraudster to help with finances... you couldn't make it up!

 

You could make it up...

 

But it wouldn't be as funny!

Edited 4 January, 2010 by Sheaf Saint

[Thedelldays]

if pompey are so much bigger than saints

 

it should npt be a problem to be bought out by someone serious the moment the club is available

 

after all..little old saints got itself a billionaire owner whilst in div 3..

 

big old pompey should have no issue...right..?

 

Why won't they answer this little nugget

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

I have been called many things in my time, (including 'early'), but never have I been accused of being a supporter of Skatesburg Dis-united, and never have I 'posted' on the opposition forums. You should try Specsavers.

Just how far on the East side of So'ton DO YOU dwell, Gosport,?. or Leigh Park.?

Just a mile and a half from the glorious centre that is Southampton. Not quite Gosport or shi-tLiegh park. Sorry to say then that a skate has also got your username. I suppose that's the problem with living on that Pompey inbred fan feeder that is the I.O.W. And i should know , my wifes a caulk head!

[PaulSaint]

According to this report, the first of the stupid arabs paid £108M for Pompey!!!! Gaydamak gets all that for a small, debt ridden football club, keeps the surrounding land & still wants £28.5M, now thats greedy!

 

http://www.mergermarket.com/pdf/UK_Deal_Drivers_H1_2009.pdf

 

This really makes the Saints purchase look a bargain!

 

[Kingsland Codger]

I suppose that's the problem with living on that Pompey inbred fan feeder that is the I.O.W. And i should know , my wifes a caulk head!

 

 

We don't have to be Pompey fans to be inbred; we have some standards.

 

[Draino76]

Ok, ask anyone actually IN football which is the bigger club? Ask anyone, Journalists, players, managers. Ask people who merely watch the game, neutral fans- ask them the same question. You won't like the replies........

 

That was lovely.

[Verbal]

Now they have employed a convicted fraudster to help with finances... you couldn't make it up!

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/03/portsmouth-debts-transfer-embargo

 

Faraj took control in October, through an investment vehicle Falcondrone Ltd, though there is confusion over the roles of a number of figures said to be connected with him, and the club.

 

Daniel Azougy, a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to five months in prison by the Tel Aviv magistrates court in 2001 and disbarred from practising as a lawyer for 14 years in Israel, has been employed on a short-term contract to "help deal with the club's finances", the club confirmed.

 

How accurate is that report? It says that PFC owes £10m to other English clubs. Does that mean that the fees they owe Lens are on top of that?

 

But there are two big unexplained mysteries about Pompey, which that reoort touches on again.

 

1. How is it possible that a supposedly Saudi-owned business be so completely and openly controlled by Israeli financiers, lawyers and football manager? In the context of Saudi society, that is simply impossible. I can only conclude that al-Faraj is NOT the beneficial (!) owner.

 

2. How exactly did the FA apply its Fit and Proper Person test against a Virgin Islands registered phantom company?

[hypochondriac]

According to this report, the first of the stupid arabs paid £108M for Pompey!!!! Gaydamak gets all that for a small, debt ridden football club, keeps the surrounding land & still wants £28.5M, now thats greedy!

 

http://www.mergermarket.com/pdf/UK_Deal_Drivers_H1_2009.pdf

 

This really makes the Saints purchase look a bargain!

 

 

No he didn't pay that. It says pending.

[Clapham Saint]

How accurate is that report? It says that PFC owes £10m to other English clubs. Does that mean that the fees they owe Lens are on top of that?

 

But there are two big unexplained mysteries about Pompey, which that reoort touches on again.

 

1. How is it possible that a supposedly Saudi-owned business be so completely and openly controlled by Israeli financiers, lawyers and football manager? In the context of Saudi society, that is simply impossible. I can only conclude that al-Faraj is NOT the beneficial (!) owner.

 

2. How exactly did the FA apply its Fit and Proper Person test against a Virgin Islands registered phantom company?

 

Agreed. If of course the fit and proper test is anything more than a box ticking excersise to confirm that the person/company exists.

 

Does the F.A. puplish what the fit and propert test is intended to achieve, or have they just given a thorough sounding name to a one page application form?

[Clapham Saint]

Although we have also had the bull**** about a new bank loan, have they not admitted that they need to sell players in the window to be able to meet all the required payments?

 

No news on any departures yet. The longer that remains the case, the more likely that they will go pop this week IMO.

[stevegrant]

1. How is it possible that a supposedly Saudi-owned business be so completely and openly controlled by Israeli financiers, lawyers and football manager? In the context of Saudi society, that is simply impossible. I can only conclude that al-Faraj is NOT the beneficial (!) owner.

Correct.

 

From what I've heard from people who have been doing some proper digging into this, Ali al-Faraj apparently has even less money than me, and that's saying something.

 

My belief is that the beneficial owner is still a certain Israeli who is currently in hiding in Russia having been convicted of fraud in abstentia in his homeland, but of course can't reveal it properly as his assets are supposedly frozen.

 

As you rightly say, there is no way on earth that a Saudi would appoint Israelis to run the finances (or indeed any part) of the club. It's all a big cover-up that will hopefully unravel in the coming weeks and months.

[dubai_phil]

Correct.

 

From what I've heard from people who have been doing some proper digging into this, Ali al-Faraj apparently has even less money than me, and that's saying something.

 

My belief is that the beneficial owner is still a certain Israeli who is currently in hiding in Russia having been convicted of fraud in abstentia in his homeland, but of course can't reveal it properly as his assets are supposedly frozen.

 

As you rightly say, there is no way on earth that a Saudi would appoint Israelis to run the finances (or indeed any part) of the club. It's all a big cover-up that will hopefully unravel in the coming weeks and months.

 

What was even more strange was a comment in one paper over the weekend that Al Faraj is supposedly linked to some Saudi based "Ministry of Defence" related industry.

 

If that is the case then I am amazed that some journalists have not started to follow that up and dig deeper.

 

That allegation (and no I cannot remember where the heck I saw it) is political dynamite. But have only been online since Saturday lunchtime so not that old.

 

A Saudi national dealing with Jews is one thing but with all the possible links into the arms business from before....

 

That one is potentially as big a story as the BAe dodgy commissions story. The sort of thing that conspiracy theorists or extremists could use to attack the Saudi Government.

[saintbletch]

Correct.

 

From what I've heard from people who have been doing some proper digging into this, Ali al-Faraj apparently has even less money than me, and that's saying something.

 

My belief is that the beneficial owner is still a certain Israeli who is currently in hiding in Russia having been convicted of fraud in abstentia in his homeland, but of course can't reveal it properly as his assets are supposedly frozen.

 

As you rightly say, there is no way on earth that a Saudi would appoint Israelis to run the finances (or indeed any part) of the club. It's all a big cover-up that will hopefully unravel in the coming weeks and months.

 

Hmm. This had been troubling me.

 

It surely points towards at least some Israeli element in the ownership.

[Gemmel]

What was even more strange was a comment in one paper over the weekend that Al Faraj is supposedly linked to some Saudi based "Ministry of Defence" related industry.

 

If that is the case then I am amazed that some journalists have not started to follow that up and dig deeper.

 

That allegation (and no I cannot remember where the heck I saw it) is political dynamite. But have only been online since Saturday lunchtime so not that old.

 

A Saudi national dealing with Jews is one thing but with all the possible links into the arms business from before....

 

That one is potentially as big a story as the BAe dodgy commissions story. The sort of thing that conspiracy theorists or extremists could use to attack the Saudi Government.

 

Research has revealed that Al Faraj is not listed as a director or shareholder of any company registered in Saudi Arabia. But there are suggestions that he may have connections with the Saudi Ministry of Defence. If that is the case, it might explain why he is shrouded in such mystery and companies might be held in other names. Sources have also told The Mail On Sunday that Al Faraj trades in commodities, including oil and gold, and that his property portfolio includes a building in the City of London with a value of £48m

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1238589/No-Christmas-pay-Portsmouth-Debts-mean-Pompey-sell-stars-just-going.html#ixzz0be1V9lSM

[Gemmel]

Correct.

 

From what I've heard from people who have been doing some proper digging into this, Ali al-Faraj apparently has even less money than me, and that's saying something.

 

My belief is that the beneficial owner is still a certain Israeli who is currently in hiding in Russia having been convicted of fraud in abstentia in his homeland, but of course can't reveal it properly as his assets are supposedly frozen.

 

As you rightly say, there is no way on earth that a Saudi would appoint Israelis to run the finances (or indeed any part) of the club. It's all a big cover-up that will hopefully unravel in the coming weeks and months.

 

That would make this a bizarre thing to say unless it was a double bluff, which would suggest they are very confident of not being found out.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/31/portsmouth-sacha-gaydamak-winding-up-order

[dubai_phil]

Research has revealed that Al Faraj is not listed as a director or shareholder of any company registered in Saudi Arabia. But there are suggestions that he may have connections with the Saudi Ministry of Defence. If that is the case, it might explain why he is shrouded in such mystery and companies might be held in other names. Sources have also told The Mail On Sunday that Al Faraj trades in commodities, including oil and gold, and that his property portfolio includes a building in the City of London with a value of £48m

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1238589/No-Christmas-pay-Portsmouth-Debts-mean-Pompey-sell-stars-just-going.html#ixzz0be1V9lSM

 

 

Thanks Gemmel..

 

As I mentioned, I would imagine that anything that shows links between Israel & the Saudi Ministry of Defence would be in the brown trousers land of bad news for the Keepers of The Holy Sites.

 

If I may also attempt to translate the rest of the article, Al Faraj seems to be a dodgy deal doer or broker who is involved in numerous deals with no great speciality.

 

He joins a long list then, Tony Lynam, Whacko, Sultan Bin Trump

[stevegrant]

That would make this a bizarre thing to say unless it was a double bluff, which would suggest they are very confident of not being found out.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/31/portsmouth-sacha-gaydamak-winding-up-order

Nail. Head.

 

He knows exactly what's going on, because he (or, more accurately, his father) is still the owner, but these comments cast doubt on the views of those who have managed to piece enough information together.

 

I'm absolutely stunned that Scotland Yard have been going after the relatively small-fry Mandaric, Redknapp and Storrie when there's a MUCH bigger picture in this whole episode, IMO.

[rallyboy]

so we have an arms dealer on the run and a man who sued him for millions queued up behind the taxman as the two main creditors of a bankrupt club with no income, owned by arabs and fantasists, controlled by jews, with the day to day running in the hands of convicted fraudsters and those awaiting court appearances on tax evasion.

 

What could possibly go wrong? -and they're still worried more about what goes on out on the pitch.

[OldNick]

so we have an arms dealer on the run and a man who sued him for millions queued up behind the taxman as the two main creditors of a bankrupt club with no income, owned by arabs and fantasists, controlled by jews, with the day to day running in the hands of convicted fraudsters and those awaiting court appearances on tax evasion.

 

What could possibly go wrong? -and they're still worried more about what goes on out on the pitch.

but a lot of those self interests is to not let them go into admin. It is a strange mix

[View From The Top]

but a lot of those self interests is to not let them go into admin. It is a strange mix

 

It may well be out of their hands now.

[Gemmel]

 

If I may also attempt to translate the rest of the article, Al Faraj seems to be a dodgy deal doer or broker who is involved in numerous deals with no great speciality.

 

He joins a long list then, Tony Lynam, Whacko, Sultan Bin Trump

 

Someone mentioned on this thread that Lifelongpompey will make an appearance at some point (Which he will) but given the level of debt and lack of assets, "Administration" will attract all sorts of freaks believing they can pick up a football club for next to nothing and the only thing of any real value would be the parachute payments.

 

Probably far to simplistic but

 

Option 1

debts somewhere near 100 million, club go into admin and new buyer pays (Pure guess) 10p in the pound - debts are cleared and youve bought yourself a championship club , with a conference league stadium for 10 mill.

 

Option 2

You pay nothing off, but take on the debt and buy the club for a penny

 

Both of those options will have certain people coming in their pants.

[Guided Missile]

Nail. Head.

 

He knows exactly what's going on, because he (or, more accurately, his father) is still the owner, but these comments cast doubt on the views of those who have managed to piece enough information together.

 

I'm absolutely stunned that Scotland Yard have been going after the relatively small-fry Mandaric, Redknapp and Storrie when there's a MUCH bigger picture in this whole episode, IMO.

It has been obvious from day one that the purchase of Portsmouth Football Club has been a money laundering exercise for the Gaydemak family.

 

I think that given that the crime that Gaydamak Sr. has been found guilty of, was committed in France, an organisation such as Interpol would need to get involved.

 

What I find incredible is that Southampton fans have, for years, bemoaned the ethics of the reverse takeover of a rest home company, to obtain a public listing and yet Pompey fans have not been able to raise a whimper about the source of their recent "wealth", until their league status is threatened....

[saintds]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/gabriele_marcotti/article6974596.ece

 

No new news here, but an opinion that agrees with Mawhinney, Platini and co that overspending is cheating.

[View From The Top]

I think that given that the crime that Gaydamak Sr. has been found guilty of, was committed in France, an organisation such as Interpol would need to get involved.

 

 

He's on the run in Russia for a reason.

[stevegrant]

It has been obvious from day one that the purchase of Portsmouth Football Club has been a money laundering exercise for the Gaydemak family.

 

I think that given that the crime that Gaydamak Sr. has been found guilty of, was committed in France, an organisation such as Interpol would need to get involved.

 

What I find incredible is that Southampton fans have, for years, bemoaned the ethics of the reverse takeover of a rest home company, to obtain a public listing and yet Pompey fans have not been able to raise a whimper about the source of their recent "wealth", until their league status is threatened....

I didn't think he'd been convicted (or even tried) for the illegal arms dealing charges that has seen him on the Interpol wanted list for years - I was under the impression the relatively recent guilty verdict was a fraud charge?

[stevegrant]

Someone mentioned on this thread that Lifelongpompey will make an appearance at some point (Which he will) but given the level of debt and lack of assets, "Administration" will attract all sorts of freaks believing they can pick up a football club for next to nothing and the only thing of any real value would be the parachute payments.

 

Probably far to simplistic but

 

Option 1

debts somewhere near 100 million, club go into admin and new buyer pays (Pure guess) 10p in the pound - debts are cleared and youve bought yourself a championship club , with a conference league stadium for 10 mill.

 

Option 2

You pay nothing off, but take on the debt and buy the club for a penny

 

Both of those options will have certain people coming in their pants.

And Pompey fans should be incredibly worried by anybody who comes in and claims that Option 2 is the best option. All that would facilitate is a changing of the guard, and the club would still remain completely insolvent and unsustainable.

[bridge too far]

I didn't think he'd been convicted (or even tried) for the illegal arms dealing charges that has seen him on the Interpol wanted list for years - I was under the impression the relatively recent guilty verdict was a fraud charge?

 

So, Steve - reading between the lines of your post above and your earlier one - are you suggesting that Gaydamak sr. is going to buy the club so that Gaydamak jr. gets his money back and is doing this via a third party whose identity is buried in the British Virgin Islands?

 

Or am I being thick here

[Gemmel]

I didn't think he'd been convicted (or even tried) for the illegal arms dealing charges that has seen him on the Interpol wanted list for years - I was under the impression the relatively recent guilty verdict was a fraud charge?

 

http://archive.globes.co.il/searchgl/Arcadi%20Gaydamak%20found%20guilty%20of%20arms%20trafficking_h_hd_2L34nDpKuCrmnC30mDJ0uDpStBcXqRMm0.html

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article4754215.ece

[the colonel]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/gabriele_marcotti/article6974596.ece

 

No new news here, but an opinion that agrees with Mawhinney, Platini and co that overspending is cheating.

 

 

I'm no fan of Lowe, glad to see the back of him, but doesn't the things going on at skates, to some extent, vindicate the way he tried to run Saints financially. i.e. keeping expenditure within our income boosted by the sale of academy players. Of course it fell foul due to turnover of managers and subsequent payouts, flooding the club with quantity rather than quality of players, never attracting any investment, etc. I know the list can go on but prinicpally he tried to keep Saints in the black.

[Guided Missile]

He's on the run in Russia for a reason.

Yeah, sentenced to six years in jail in absentia by a French court as this article shows and indicted for money laundering by Israel as this article shows. There is evidence that his son was up to his nuts in money laundering, as well, from this article.

 

The fit and proper persons test that is used by the Premier League really is a joke.

Edited 4 January, 2010 by Guided Missile

[pfc123]

I think you'll find that if you speak to anyone in football or journos (my other half is a journo with a national so I get to meet a few) they think both Saints and skates are a couple nothing clubs with their own petty squabbles and at the moment skates are boxing well above their weight and Saints are well below. Equating to neither being a large club or a small club. To sum it up those in the industry probably think both clubs should be around the top of the championship, as they will never offer anything more than outsiders chance if/when in the top league.

 

But having said that Saints have constantly been referred to as one of the big boys of Div 1 I can't say I ever remember skates being referred to as the same when the roles were reversed.

 

All this rubbish about yours is bigger than mine is just banter and most fans on both sides, with any common sense, know that there isn't much difference between the two clubs.

 

Hmmm, yep, I'd agree with nearly all of that. Neither of us are ever likely to bother Real Madrid. You definitely have the long term advantage at the moment with the ground already in place and a stable financial setup.

 

It's funny how times change. I remember as a kid growing up in the early seventies, reading on more than one occasion in the national press how Fratton Park was described as one the best grounds outside the top flight! Laughable now, but it just goes to show how most other clubs have upped their game in the decades since, and Pompey er, haven't

[stevegrant]

So, Steve - reading between the lines of your post above and your earlier one - are you suggesting that Gaydamak sr. is going to buy the club so that Gaydamak jr. gets his money back and is doing this via a third party whose identity is buried in the British Virgin Islands?

 

Or am I being thick here

No, I'm suggesting that Daddy doesn't need to buy the club because he actually already owns it, but has been concealing this fact ever since Junior "bought" the club from Milan Mandaric. Vast sums of money were injected to fund player transfers, but they would never have expected (or attempted) to get all their money back. In order to launder "clean" money, you need to put in a lot more dirty money.

 

So say, for argument's sake, Junior puts in £50m of dirty money, leave it to slosh around for a year or two and then all of a sudden decides he's not willing to fund the club anymore and wants to sell (this just happens to coincide with Daddy's assets being frozen). To make it look like you're desperate to sell, you agree to hand the shares over for a nominal fee with the proviso that the new "owner" assumes the liability for the debt, much of which is actually owed to Junior in the form of director loans. If that debt ever gets repaid properly, all of a sudden Junior has extracted "clean" money from TV revenue, transfer fees and the pockets of the fans in exchange for the dirty injection earlier.

 

Even if the club goes into administration and a buyer only offers to pay creditors 10p in the pound, he's still getting clean money out of the deal, so he's probably not bothered either way.

[pfc123]

Except that Pompey haven't really won that many trophies, if we look at actual things won, then where would Pompey be counted? This list is the total number of titles won (League Championships, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, Cup Winners Cup, Fairs/UEFA Cup and Club World Cup.

 

1) Liverpool 40

2) Manchester United 37

3) Arsenal 27

4) Aston Villa 20

5) Tottenham Hotspur 17

6) Everton 15

7) Chelsea 14

Newcastle United 11

9) Blackburn Rovers 10

10) Wolverhampton Wanderers 9

11) Manchester City 9

12) Nottingham Forest 9

13) Sunderland 8

14) Sheffield Wednesday 8

15) Leeds United 7

16) West Bromwich Albion 7

17) Wanderers 5

18) Sheffield United 5

19) West Ham United 5

 

Huddersfield Town 4

Portsmouth 4

Preston North End 4

Burnley 4

Bolton Wanderers 4

 

So, if you actually look at trophies won, Pompey are in a 5 way tie for 20th place. How do you make them Premier? But even your best argument doesn't wash - would Wanderers deserve a place in the Premier League based on 5 FA Cup wins when they haven't existed for over 120 years?

 

But by the same token where would YOU appear on the list?

[pfc123]

Why won't they answer this little nugget

 

Well, an interesting theory surfaced yesterday on one of our boards. Apparently, four out of the last seven influential characters to arrive at FP since Gaydamak left in October have either been sued by the Gaydamak family, or are in turn suing said family.

 

IF the club goes into admininstration, Gaydamak jr/snr will lose approx 95% of the £28 million he says he is owed.

 

So it would be sweet revenge for the four out of seven to let the club go under, wouldn't it?

 

Mmmmm, I just love being a helpless pawn in somebody else's game of poker...... :mad:

[saintds]

I'm no fan of Lowe, glad to see the back of him, but doesn't the things going on at skates, to some extent, vindicate the way he tried to run Saints financially. i.e. keeping expenditure within our income boosted by the sale of academy players. Of course it fell foul due to turnover of managers and subsequent payouts, flooding the club with quantity rather than quality of players, never attracting any investment, etc. I know the list can go on but prinicpally he tried to keep Saints in the black.

 

I agree with all of that. We're in such a fantastic position now so it's perhaps easier to look back with an "honest" hat on.

 

An article was posted in this thread (maybe 5 pages ago, maybe 50, tough to tell the way the pages fly by), in which Wenger suggested the over spenders were cheaters. I admire Wenger for what he is doing at Arsenal, albeit at the cost of actual silverware. His is very much a long term vision and may not bear fruit until he has left the club. But who's to say their current crop of youngsters couldn't burst through and past a skint Manchester Redskins/ageing Chelski.

 

It's also wrong, I think, to feel sorry for the fans when a club falls on hard times. Several articles and PES, a man who speaks a lot of sense, have pointed to the fact that, when a club is on the up, how many fans give a sh1te about what is being spent to provide that level of success? On the flip-side though, these are decisions completely out of the hands of the masses, but the masses aren't able to have a say on who to entrust the running of their club. Barcelona, a fantastic club, as an example, is an exception to the rule here.

 

I'd be interested to see the first set of accounts under this fantastic new era at Saints. I assume SFC is now a Private Limited Company and we will therefore see some numbers. Are the attendances this season sufficient to justify our level of spending, assuming we strengthen in the coming weeks?

[Weston Saint]

But by the same token where would YOU appear on the list?

 

Well since the 70's

 

FA cup final win against the team 2nd on the list

 

FA cup runner up against 3rd on the list

 

League div 1 runner up (now premier) to against 1st on the list

 

League cup runner up to the team 12th on the list.

 

Against your FA cup win against a team not featuring on the list.

[trousers]

Now they have employed a convicted fraudster to help with finances... you couldn't make it up!

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/03/portsmouth-debts-transfer-embargo

 

Faraj took control in October, through an investment vehicle Falcondrone Ltd, though there is confusion over the roles of a number of figures said to be connected with him, and the club.

 

Daniel Azougy, a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to five months in prison by the Tel Aviv magistrates court in 2001 and disbarred from practising as a lawyer for 14 years in Israel, has been employed on a short-term contract to "help deal with the club's finances", the club confirmed.

 

Has he got a briefcase?

[pfc123]

Well since the 70's

 

FA cup final win against the team 2nd on the list

 

FA cup runner up against 3rd on the list

 

League div 1 runner up (now premier) to against 1st on the list

 

League cup runner up to the team 12th on the list.

 

Against your FA cup win against a team not featuring on the list.

 

Yes but the problem with what you've said above is that:

 

A) It's date selective once again as in "...since the 70's...". You ALWAYS fall into the trap of trying to airbrush inconvenient periods of history out of the argument.

 

B) the phrase 'runner up'. Not quite the same as 'Winners' is it?

[Yeovil Saint]

But by the same token where would YOU appear on the list?

 

Equal 32nd with about 20 other teams, but remember, that's your best argument and it doesn't stand up.

 

How about Saints having more seasons in the top division than Pompey, having less seasons in the fourth division than Pompey, more seasons in Europe, getting as far as a quarter final in Europe. And as Pompey fans seem to have forgotten, Saints have won more matches against Pompey as Pompey have against Saints.

 

League: Saints won 14, Pompey won 8, Drawn 8

FA Cup: Saints won 4, Pompey won 0, Drawn 0

League Cup: Saints won 1, Pompey won 0, Drawn 0

 

Total League and Cup: Saints won 19, Pompey won 8, Drawn 8.

 

Where it matters, throughout history, Saints have generally been the better team on the pitch.

 

Enough said.

Edited 4 January, 2010 by Yeovil Saint
stupid typo

[Weston Saint]

Yes but the problem with what you've said above is that:

 

A) It's date selective once again as in "...since the 70's...". You ALWAYS fall into the trap of trying to airbrush inconvenient periods of history out of the argument.

 

B) the phrase 'runner up'. Not quite the same as 'Winners' is it?

I will let others decide

[Colinjb]

Yes but the problem with what you've said above is that:

 

A) It's date selective once again as in "...since the 70's...". You ALWAYS fall into the trap of trying to airbrush inconvenient periods of history out of the argument.

 

B) the phrase 'runner up'. Not quite the same as 'Winners' is it?

 

So in summary even though you have over the life of both clubs won more trophies you still attract lower crowds in the very competition that you won merely 2 seasons ago then we get against a team competing outside of the Football League. And Stadium capacity is no factor here as due to the nature of the cup we both fell way short.

 

Dread to think how few 'fans' you would have if you hadn't acheived the same in your illustrious past.

 

I do enjoy our chats.

Edited 4 January, 2010 by Colinjb

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

 

We don't have to be Pompey fans to be inbred; we have some standards.

 

KC that was a very tounge in cheek quote. But there are lots of skate fans on the island. Like the mainland JCL's they're like woodworms just emerging. still with wood dust in their eyes! Shame!

[OldNick]

But by the same token where would YOU appear on the list?

true but it is useless using glories from before the 60's and even our FaCup win in the late 70's is starting to become long distant pat to most.

[rallyboy]

I think you should at least pay your poor captain before bragging about the glorious 1-0 win over cash-strapped Cardiff.

 

'When Sol went up to lift the fa cup, he didn't get paid, he didn't get paid!'

 

How much did that win cost?

About £100M?

Or the whole club?

 

That's one expensive day out.

[dubai_phil]

Well, just for once, maybe there is a chance that the Blue Few could do something that WOULD make their club memorable and cast them in a league above the rest of the fan base.

 

After all it is their club, so maybe they could do something.

 

It is without doubt, clear that they have been owned by a series of unsavoury characters.

It is clear that the FAPP test is beyond a joke. The PL don't care WHO owns a club as long as they bring MONEY.

 

The same FAPP who approved the Gaydamark ownership, approved Al Fahim & Al Faraj.

Who approved the Munto Finance takeover of Notts County

Who approved Thaksin at Man City

Who (although he's now seen as a demi-god) approved Abramovich

 

In fact the same people who approved Al Fahim & Al Faraj even recommended one of them to the club as an owner.

 

The Few should start their protests, start their "riots" and boycotts and pickets by sending Westwood to stand outside PL HQ and ring his bell all day and every day with a placard saying greedy crooks apply here. And when he gets carried awy the remaining 8,000 or so can take over.

 

Their plight won't be the last while the lunatics run the asylum

[Gingeletiss]

KC that was a very tounge in cheek quote. But there are lots of skate fans on the island. Like the mainland JCL's they're like woodworms just emerging. still with wood dust in their eyes! Shame!

 

Laughable!!!......as a Vectonion myself, I had the choice as a child, across to Southampton on the red funnel, or a trip to Fishbourne, and over to SKatesmouth. I chose right, alas, many of my fellow Vectonians chose wrong. Am I the lucky one;)

[Essruu]

Yes but the problem with what you've said above is that:

 

A) It's date selective once again as in "...since the 70's...". You ALWAYS fall into the trap of trying to airbrush inconvenient periods of history out of the argument.

 

Old Etonians won it twice too. They now play amateur football in the Arthurian League. So, chin up: if/when it all goes pop for your little club, maybe they'll let you join their league and play with them; Then you'll soon be able to argue that despite how there are no living survivors who saw your cup wins, your survivors died more recently and therefore you are the greatest cup winners in the history of the dead.

[Daren W]

Yes but the problem with what you've said above is that:

 

A) It's date selective once again as in "...since the 70's...". You ALWAYS fall into the trap of trying to airbrush inconvenient periods of history out of the argument.

 

As opposed to concentrating on a period 50 years ago? It's rather amusing that you can actually accuse us of being selective whilst ignoring the period from the mid 50's to 2004? It's as if with you trophies only count and attendances and evolution into a proper club is inconsequential.

The whole point is will those titles and 3 FA cup wins keep you warm if your club goes out of business? Answer? No...

 

B) the phrase 'runner up'. Not quite the same as 'Winners' is it?

 

But not quite as good a phrase as "Solvent and debtless"