Pompey Takeover Saga

[Fowllyd]

At most organisations I've worked for, I've stumbled across the odd individual, who you just think "How the fook" did you get that job followed by appointments that you can only say "Why".

 

But when you look at Supporters Direct "values and objectives" and marry them to the decisions he took at pompey, it is the most bizarre appointment, I've ever seen.

 

Generally speaking, there tends to be a limit to how far anyone will get with a mixture of incompetence masked by bluster and bull****. I remember a boss I had years ago who got kicked out (to our department's profound relief); he got another job, lasted a few years, got kicked out, got another job, lasted a few years, got kicked out... He was very good at keeping the right people sweet (generally his immediate boss plus their superiors) but over time this would wear thin as the fact that he was actually useless became clearer and clearer.

 

I think this could be how Lampitt's career has gone; in spite of all the conspiracy rubbish that people spouted about him joining Pompey, it's far more likely that he was getting found out at the FA after seven years (not all of which was in the same job by the sound of it) and jumped before he got pushed. Pompey were desperate at the time and I'd give good odds that Lampitt interviews well.

 

As for getting the Supporters Direct gig, I can only assume that he was able to portray his time at the Skates as a Sisyphean struggle to put things right following the collapse of a spendthrift regime, ruined only by the unfortunate arrest of their nice new owner. But have they really done no research? And how the hell can anyone speak proudly of his role in formulating financial fair play rules, when in his next job he sanctioned the signings of two players who were both paid double the loudly-stated salary limit? All the more so when this took place when the business was still officially in administration (unless my memory of sequence of events has failed me that is).

 

Bizarre with knobs on.

[eurosaint]

Supporters Direct: What attracted you to the role of Supporters Direct chief executive?

 

David Lampitt: Everything that I’ve been involved in since coming into football has reflected a personal determination to improve the way the game operates, whether that’s part of the overall standards at a governing body or at an individual club. That continues to be a passion and something which resonates strongly with the work of Supporters Direct.

 

I’ve worked closely with SD previously so know it has a great reputation, as was recognised by the Select Committee in their report last year, and some excellent staff who I look forward to working with. It’s also an exciting and challenging time for the Trust movement with continued economic uncertainty that will undoubtedly affect clubs, along with the significant growth of our work at European level.

 

SD : Tell us a bit about that thread then – you’ve been involved on a number of fronts over the last decade…

 

DL : Well I come from a financial services background having trained as an accountant with Ernst & Young in the Nineties. I moved to The FA in 2003 and for the next 7 years I worked across a variety of areas on the regulatory side. In my first week in the job, there was the “battle of Old Trafford” between United and Arsenal and Rio missing his drugs test - I can safely say it was never dull.

 

The latter part of my time at The FA was spent focussed on some of the more complex issues around club finances, agents, the transfer system and betting integrity. I was part of the UEFA Club Licensing Committee and the working group that developed Financial Fair Play as a concept. In 2010, I decided to take on a huge challenge at Portsmouth FC which was in an extremely distressed state.

 

Plenty of people questioned my decision at the time, but I believed in the club – and still do - and felt it was something of a personal calling to do what I could to try to set it right. Having pulled it through an incredibly uncertain and precarious period which was only achieved with the hard work and dedication of a lot of good people, it is obviously gut-wrenching to see that work undone following the catastrophic collapse of the ownership last November. Whilst those experiences have been extremely tough, I know that they will be of benefit in this new challenge taking Supporters Direct forward.

 

SD: With your experience in the UK and Europe, you’ll undoubtedly be aware of the crucial role that supporters can play in making the game better. What’s your personal view on the importance of supporter involvement?

 

DL : Supporters are the most important stakeholder in football, and are still under-represented in terms of their involvement in the key-decision making processes that affect the running of the sport.

 

But that is changing and SD has played a key role in bringing about that change with successes such as those at Exeter City, AFC Wimbledon, Wrexham, Chester FC, and many more. For me perhaps the most compelling fact is that the Trust movement has brought in over £30m of new finance to football and rugby league since 2000.

 

So the evidence base that it works is there, and it’s growing all the time. It’s also being reinforced by experiences in other parts of Europe. We need to make sure that continues and that it is promoted as widely as possible. We also need to ensure that those supporters already involved continue to get our support and assistance to face an ever-changing set of challenges.

 

SD: And you feel that Supporters Direct is the organisation to keep the momentum going?

 

DL: Supporters Direct's record of achieving that sort of representation and positive outcomes – from the raising of finance by the Trust movement generally to the saving of sports clubs – is a testament to the importance of that work, although it is probably an even greater testament to the incredible power that fans can generate. Harnessing that energy and channelling it to best effect is a critical part of SD’s role now and in the future.

 

With the increasing focus on financially sustainable ownership, we also need to make sure our voice is heard, and that we are actively involved in the discussions around financial regulation frameworks that are on the agenda both in the UK and Europe.

 

SD: If you could sum up where you want to lead SD in a single sentence, what would you say?

 

DL: I would like SD to be widely recognised throughout the UK and Europe as the leading organisation for improving professional sport by involving supporters in the governance and ownership of their clubs.

 

I've read some sh#t in my time but this doesn't half take the biscuit !!

Vomit inducing in the extreme !!

[Truckasaurus]

£400,000.

 

If that is one payment up front (bet it ain't though) that should cover their "bills" for about twelve days (conservative guess)

 

He wasn't one of the big earners either:scared:

 

I still think they are going to struggle to make next season.

 

How is the fire sale going Trev? We here on this thing are desperate for info and Rallyboy needs some more material to keep us all entertained.(haven't got a MK1 escort for sale have ya?)

 

The Fire Sale..................could it be extingushers he was talking about? i don't think it can be players!

 

All them big earners are going nowhere and chinny is not a happy bunny.

 

God bless Marcus.

[JackFrost]

Joel Ward to Palace is a done deal. £400K

 

http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10323~2790731,00.html

 

400k

 

[dubai_phil]

Game of Thrones night here in Dubai on a Monday.

 

(BTW because tdd asked, nothing in this post is a spoiler, if you did not know what had to happen in the last couple of episodes then you haven't been watching as it has been building for 2 weeks)

 

Seemed to me a perfect Analogy. The Dwarf getting stitched up has to lead troops into an Impossible Battle. He knows it's stupid and we know it's stupid, A Dwarf who has never done anything but plot scheme and sh@g has to go up against the cream of the Nation's Knights in Armour. TB going into battle with the FL armed with nothing but a piece of paper and some bullsh1t pretty much the same thing.

 

I realise GOT isn't on until later in the week in Blighty so won't give you any spoilers.

 

But I reckon it's a damned fine analogy and outcome.

Edited 28 May, 2012 by dubai_phil

[hypochondriac]

Phil probably not the wisest idea to post spoilers for people who haven't seen the episode yet.

[Faz]

Joel Ward to Palace is a done deal. £400K

 

http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10323~2790731,00.html

 

You see, the power is all with the players. JW is one of their few sellable players, but he doesn't have to go anywhere he doesn't want o. So there may have been better offers (£400k is a snip I think), but if he didn't want to go there's nothing TB can do about it.

 

Whoever (if anyone) ends up taking on this bag of bones is still looking down the barrell of a £10m salary overspend next year.

 

Still can't see whats in it for Chinnery if they can't shift the high spenders.

 

If Balu takes it on, then the FL will probably ask for a bond. Whether they get one or not is open to question. He will probably say that its his way or the highway. The FL will buckle, and agree he can take it on. wait to see if the CVA gets approved and then decide on points deductions.

 

The complete lask of noise from TB is a worry though. Where is all the "48hrs to save the club" tub thumping??

[dubai_phil]

Phil probably not the wisest idea to post spoilers for people who haven't seen the episode yet.

 

If I'd wanted to post spoliers I'd have told you there were bewbs about 1 minute in.

 

oops

 

Watch in peace, you'll see I didn't spoil anything so I changed one word

Edited 28 May, 2012 by dubai_phil

[sidthesquid]

 

Still can't see whats in it for Chinnery if they can't shift the high spenders.

 

 

Sorry to keep on about it - but it's the ground (or the ground under the ground), that is all he is interested in. Whatever might still remain of the Parachute payments won't even cover the running costs. If they are liquidated, he loses everything. As long as they cling on he retains his sole saleable asset.

It's like playing Monopoly - you are getting thrashed by your kid or your granny, but you still have Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road with one house on each, and though you are one bad throw from landing on Mayfair with a hotel, you are still just in with a chance until your property is gone. And that is where Chinny is about now.

[dubai_phil]

Sorry to keep on about it - but it's the ground (or the ground under the ground), that is all he is interested in. Whatever might still remain of the Parachute payments won't even cover the running costs. If they are liquidated, he loses everything. As long as they cling on he retains his sole saleable asset.

It's like playing Monopoly - you are getting thrashed by your kid or your granny, but you still have Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road with one house on each, and though you are one bad throw from landing on Mayfair with a hotel, you are still just in with a chance until your property is gone. And that is where Chinny is about now.

 

All Chinny is interested in is a simple equation.

 

Does (X-Y)/Z= more than I can get for a Liquidation.

 

X = Income (including PP's)

Y=Expenditure

Z= Time

 

There, my 1st algebra since 6th Form

[Winchester Red]

Sorry to disappoint you DP but Game of Thrones is at 9pm on Mondays in the UK

 

.....if you live in the UK and you didn't know that then you've just missed it!

 

[dubai_phil]

Sorry to disappoint you DP but Game of Thrones is at 9pm on Mondays in the UK

 

.....if you live in the UK and you didn't know that then you've just missed it!

 

 

Woo hoo we are an hour in front of you lot with the show. (Daughter watches it on Tuesday hence my confusion obviously Sky+)

 

It's at 11pm here. (Again another connection - cannot believe PCFC are still going coupled with I can't believe they show the Series with no editing across the entire Muslim World)

 

Both are unbelievable

[Saint in Paradise]

Please would someone enlighten this dim old person. Assuming Chanrai does indeed get to be

named as the legal owner of fratton park who will buy it when it is surrounded by land NOT

owned by him? Access will then still be very limited and the total area surely not big enough

for a supermarket and parking etc?

[rallyboy]

more worryingly.....

 

I have read every one of 1,266 pages.

I've commented way too often.

I've spent far too long composing some of those posts.

In total I must have lost a full couple of months of my life.

 

And now you fricking tell me we are only halfway????

 

Die skates die, asap.

[SaintBobby]

Simple question (I hope)...with a preface...then a thought

 

Preface: As I understand it administrators are highly skilled, talented people whose job it is to tackle failing businesses and keep them alive/turn them around. This is a very well-paid and privileged position - akin to being a high court judge etc. It's a "closed shop"/registered profession (e.g. I couldn't just stick my hand in the air and say "give me a go") It carries with it severe responsibility and harsh penalties for screwing up (e.g. a high court judge found to take a bribe would be in much deeper sh1t than a juror taking a bribe). The essential principle regarding an administrator is that they must seek to get the best deal for the creditors - but this is often assumed to mean they keep the business operational, and the creditors get a fair-ish % (maybe only 10%, say) rather than conservatively killing the company and the creditors dividing up the remaining paper clips and toilet rollsb(maybe 0.000000001%). However, the administrator is liable personally for any decision to keep the company alive rather than dividing up its assets if an immediate division of the assets would be preferable to the creditors (e.g. creditors can get 2% today or 1% later, therefore I must close the company today or pay the 1% gap myself).

 

Question: If the premise is correct, why hasn't Birch closed the company? What's he waiting for or gambling on? What potential liability does he face? He must be a very bright man, so is he awake every night worried by a potential £5m liability being placed at his door because he didn't shut down the skates weeks ago? This is on him, right? If he isn't worried about this, why isn't he? A lot of the evidence adduced above suggests that the sooner Pompey are toast, the less money is lost to creditors. Why does Mr Birch obviously disagree with this analysis? Especially given that - from his point of view - an immediate closure limits his own liabilities, makes it less likely that he loses his family home and sports car and pension fund etc? Is the man irrational, mad, risk-loving, corrupt? I doubt it - so why behave like this?

 

Thought: Is any pressure being applied other than through this forum? For example, is there some way I can seek to become a creditor to Pompey and then litigate to close them down? What pressure is being applied to the Football League? Are League One teams wholly sanguine about whether Pompey suffer a points penalty next year? Were teams in relegation trouble last season (Bristol City etc) on top of this for their footballing lives? If Portsmouth go bust what would be the consequent reshuffle (e.g. would Cheltenham as play-off losers be promoted?) If so, why aren't these clubs all over it like rash? Not even their fans seem to care much. Can we clarify with some Ombudsman that Mr Birch is liable personally for the debts with every passing day? My thought is we should apply pressure rather than merely observe events.

[buctootim]

Please would someone enlighten this dim old person. Assuming Chanrai does indeed get to be

named as the legal owner of fratton park who will buy it when it is surrounded by land NOT

owned by him? Access will then still be very limited and the total area surely not big enough

for a supermarket and parking etc?

 

True. What Chinny would need is somebody with an adjoining piece of land that he needs to sell.....

[dubai_phil]

It occurs to me.

 

For Chinny read Merkel

For PCFC read Greece

 

Interesting to see who wins

[Fowllyd]

more worryingly.....

 

I have read every one of 1,266 pages.

I've commented way too often.

I've spent far too long composing some of those posts.

In total I must have lost a full couple of months of my life.

 

And now you fricking tell me we are only halfway????

 

Die skates die, asap.

 

Rallyboy, you've given so much to so many on this thread - I really don't think you should see that as lost time.

[hutch]

Simple question (I hope)...

Simple answer, Bobby, as I see it is that he has already held a creditor's meeting (27th April rings a bell) where he presented the options to the creditors.

 

At that meeting they instructed (or authorised?) him to find a buyer and put together a CVA, rather than liquidate immediately.

 

So his defence is that he was following the wishes of the creditors.

 

I see that he has managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat, and complete the firesale before the FL AGM. That £400k is nearly enough to pay up the remaining wages for the 3 players they released at the end of their contracts. Leaves the squad a bit depleted, but Cardiff, Brum & Reading have done the decent thing and let him have Lawrence, Hoseclip & Mullins back to plug the gaps.

[SW11_Saint]

Their squad really is decimated now. Just a few money-grabbers and journeymen left...

 

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/squad/first-team.aspx

[sidthesquid]

Their squad really is decimated now. Just a few money-grabbers and journeymen left...

 

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/squad/first-team.aspx

 

Though of course those few players still cost more than double any other squad in their new division....

[sidthesquid]

Yet another non-story from Skate-Pravda. Their newspaper winds me up nearly as much as their football club.

The two relevant lines are

 

There were fears that if Pompey were not able to get out of administration by the time the meeting was held, the Football League could decide to dock as many as 17 points from Pompey next season.

 

But while the Football League is publicly staying silent on the issue, Mr Birch and his team have been told that they will begin their season in League One without any deductions.

 

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/pompey-to-avoid-points-deduction-by-football-league-1-3892697

 

It has never been an offence to start a season in admin. Their problems will start as they try to exit it.

[sussexsaint]

[Joesaint]

If they are not docked more points for failing to service a previous CVA then what is to stop clubs getting a CVA that they can not afford, not get the docked points and then do a pompy?

 

Does not make any sence.

[Torres]

Another Neil Allen masterpeice there Sid.

 

The only people who held these "fears" that they might be docked points for starting the season in admnistration were those who didn't have a clue about the FL rules. They were never going to be docked points for this, as it's not an offence. They also won't get docked any points for playing in blue or having TCWTB.

 

However, there's no mention of the FL giving TB "assurances" that they won't get any points deductions for the litany of other sins, including blowing off CVA1 without paying a penny of it.

Edited 29 May, 2012 by Torres

[Gemmel]

Yet another non-story from Skate-Pravda. Their newspaper winds me up nearly as much as their football club.

The two relevant lines are

 

There were fears that if Pompey were not able to get out of administration by the time the meeting was held, the Football League could decide to dock as many as 17 points from Pompey next season.

 

But while the Football League is publicly staying silent on the issue, Mr Birch and his team have been told that they will begin their season in League One without any deductions.

 

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/pompey-to-avoid-points-deduction-by-football-league-1-3892697

 

It has never been an offence to start a season in admin. Their problems will start as they try to exit it.

 

It's an intresting story, complete bolliacks but intresting.

 

Until they know how the club are going to exercise their exit from this administration, (As in with or without an agreed CVA) they can't even begin to look at what point deductions would be relevant.

 

The crux of the story seems to rest on the fact that they won't get a deduction for staying in admin, by the time the meeting starts.... Well even us resident nutjobs on here knew that. Exit without an agreeed CVA and see how many points they don't deduct for that...... Oh and then there is the failed CVA. The trust confirmed it was on the agenda and I think a few of us on here have emails from the FL, saying they will adddress it when they know the result of this CVA.

[spyinthesky]

Though of course those few players still cost more than double any other squad in their new division....

 

Fair play to Pompey that they have, at last, realised the need to promote some of their youth team rather than continue with the policy of quality(?) over quantity.

 

Wonder if the next step would be to consider getting some of their Ladies team to step up to the mark??

[SaintRichmond]

Fair play to Pompey that they have, at last, realised the need to promote some of their youth team rather than continue with the policy of quality(?) over quantity.

 

Wonder if the next step would be to consider getting some of their Ladies team to step up to the mark??[/QUOTE]

 

 

Bl**dy Hell ........ God help us

 

Their "Ladies" team put the Mate into Matelot

[Bearsy]

I was reading bout the Top 10 Lower League Stars of the Futures today and was amused to see two Pompey youth in the list!

 

Shame they had to let em go in order to pay Benjani £25k a week or whatever!

 

http://www.football365.com/topical-top-10/7783692/Top-Ten-Lower-League-Stars-Of-Future

[mickn]

Fair play to Pompey that they have, at last, realised the need to promote some of their youth team rather than continue with the policy of quality(?) over quantity.

 

Wonder if the next step would be to consider getting some of their Ladies team to step up to the mark??[/QUOTE]

 

 

Bl**dy Hell ........ God help us

 

Their "Ladies" team put the Mate into Matelot

 

Well according to my mate who's daughter plays for them their 'keeper used to be a man....allegedly

[Sevvy]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/576170715?-11209

 

Ooops, no one wants the rest then, wonder how Chinny feels about that,

[holepuncture]

I was reading bout the Top 10 Lower League Stars of the Futures today and was amused to see two Pompey youth in the list!

 

Shame they had to let em go in order to pay Benjani £25k a week or whatever!

 

http://www.football365.com/topical-top-10/7783692/Top-Ten-Lower-League-Stars-Of-Future

 

A truly inspired move by Steve Cotteril, massive respect to him for farming out the talent that wasnt good enough for pomepy in exchange for Kitson...

 

 

and speaking of Benjani, he has been speaking with a potential new pompey owner:

 

 

Weve had the masterminds of the Angola civil war at the helm already, Russian mafia gangland killers (Gorbuntsov) and Saadi Gadaffi was also lined up to take over before the Arab uprising (poor plucky pompey, never get any luck!)... Robert Mugabe would fit in perfectly at pompey

[Torres]

They might be talking to agents about moves and not especially ringing me to keep me in the loop. That is entirely possible.

 

You're praying that's the case, aren't you Trev?

[dubai_phil]

Yet another non-story from Skate-Pravda. Their newspaper winds me up nearly as much as their football club.

The two relevant lines are

 

There were fears that if Pompey were not able to get out of administration by the time the meeting was held, the Football League could decide to dock as many as 17 points from Pompey next season.

 

But while the Football League is publicly staying silent on the issue, Mr Birch and his team have been told that they will begin their season in League One without any deductions.

 

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/pompey-to-avoid-points-deduction-by-football-league-1-3892697

 

It has never been an offence to start a season in admin. Their problems will start as they try to exit it.

 

Dear Mr Allen.

 

Nice way to blindside your readers.

 

The FL meeting has NEVER been about points deductions.

 

It has been about something FAR more important.

 

Showing the FL that you have a viable business plan that will give you some hope of completing your FIXTURES in the upcoming season.

 

Who gives a toss about Points Deductions if you have to lock the gates at Nottarf in the middle of September.

 

To Fish Fry Bigger Far

 

Rearrange to the inconvenient truth.

 

(No wonder so many of the few "get it" when they are spoon fed such rubbish)

[trousers]

@pn_neil_allen: @MatthewLeGod You are obsessed with this subject, it is all rather strange. The sun's shining go outside and play. Move on.

[Matthew Le God]

He didn't answer my question then.

 

What should I ask him now?

[Torres]

I suspect that Allen actually has very little access to Birch (who probably sees him as a rather stupid, low rent journalist) and so is not capable of putting the difficult and important questions to him, so to fill space in the rag he churns out a prodigious number of ill-informed and uninformative tripe.

 

He's dreadful. Simply dreadful.

[brightspark]

Does anyone seriously expect the FL to actually do anything?

 

They will make sure plucky Pompey are given all they want. I'd be stunned if they did anything drastic. They wouldn't dare tarnish they're image. Nobody wants to be the man that killed poor innocent sweet plucky Pompey and they're supa-dupa fans that are by far the bestest in the universe.

[Gingeletiss]

They really are a sad lot at the News, very sad!!

 

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/portsmouth-ace-makes-england-squad-1-3894311

[rallyboy]

They translate that Birch statement into we have been assured that there will never be a further penalty.

This spin also drives the Trust, there may be investors worried about a further relegation, this satisifies them.

 

If a penalty is imposed later it now means the nasty FL have lied, gone back on their word, and plucky little pompey will have to plead once again for a level playing field.

 

This vague and selective knowledge of the facts leaves people comfortable with life - they ignore the cheating, gloss over the theft, but remember with great clarity the cup, and the 4-1.

 

 

 

 

 

I bet there are very few few who realise the gravity of the situation this week - ignorance is bliss, this latest spin from Birch is nothing more than a little pikey comfort blanket.

[Gemmel]

Does anyone seriously expect the FL to actually do anything?

 

They will make sure plucky Pompey are given all they want. I'd be stunned if they did anything drastic. They wouldn't dare tarnish they're image. Nobody wants to be the man that killed poor innocent sweet plucky Pompey and they're supa-dupa fans that are by far the bestest in the universe.

 

I do bright spark.

 

I may end up looking stupid, but there are too many clubs in financial trouble, if they don't take any action, it leaves the "Gamble" option as a real consideration, which is at complete opposite to what they are trying to acheive.

 

Leave it until they come out of admin.......

[trousers]

@pn_neil_allen: @MatthewLeGod Obsessed. Born, raised, schooled, lived in the city until the age of 17. Does that not mean he is from Portsmouth then?

[pedg]

Does anyone know if its documented anywhere what pompey have to show at this meeting to allow them to continue into next season?

[hutch]

The Pompey blight has already dragged the FL & the PL through the Courts in the past year. I doubt they enjoyed that much.

 

HMRC have been given leave to appeal, and the judge, from bits I've seen, seems to be telling HMRC that he found against them on the particular question of law they asked him to address, but if they asked him a different question the outcome might be different. There is also the prospect of parliamentary intervention.

 

Does the League really want that? I can see reasons why they would be glad to see the back of them and let the dust settle. That's not to say it will happen though, but they could be tempted.

[Matthew Le God]

Both have a point. PFC fans will certainly want everyone to move on and ignore the last few years while they escape punishment, but at the same time, it can't be that healthy to sit inside stalking him on twitter when it's a nice day outside.

 

It is possible to stalk people on Twitter using a phone.

[Matthew Le God]

I've been found out.

[Gingeletiss]

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/po...quad-1-3894311

 

Rate:

Blue heart

1:31 PM on 29/05/2012

He is born and bred in Pompey, that makes him a Portsmouth ace. Could be confusing to someone who is reading a local paper who is not local though, unless they have some common sense and realise that most football players are not local to their team. Portsmouth ace yes, Arsenal ace yes, Southampton ace No.

 

Deluded morons, all of them, bitter deluded morons!

[trousers]

@pn_neil_allen: @MatthewLeGod What do you care? You are from Southampton - unlike AOC - so read your own paper. What a sad obsessed individual you are.

[Matthew Le God]

He's found me out for what many on here knew years ago.

[Jimmy_D]

 

Neil Allen is getting really wound up atm...