Frank's cousin

Not really when you think about it... all that 'discipline' at school and at home, authority figures, 'fagging' for the six formers etc... oh and dont forget matron...

I remember how Corpse used to come on here everytime someone hinted that they might not be able to afford their transfers, clearly stating how all pompeys finances were revewed by the football league.... so are the FL to blame for the charity fiasco? Maybe its another questions for the football league Dear Football league You will no doubt by now be aware that Portsmouth Football Club 2010 Ltd (yes those plucky souls in administration for a second time in 2 years) have recently revealed that just as in the first instance of administration, the 2012 FL Chapionship Community club of the Year award winners have collected monies from the public for charities and through 'clerical errors' have had these absorbed in to their large pit of debt, in effect using the charity monies to contribute to paying their players on premiership wages. Now in the grand scheme of things this would not normally be an issue for the FL, however some of Portsmouth's plucky fans, who have throughout this sorry episode remained steadfast in that the club has done nothing wrong, have PUBLICALLY stated that all financial transactions during 2010-2012 were subject to the scrutiny of the FL league, thus implicating the good name of the FL in the cheating of the charities. I am sure the FL will wish to clarify its involvement in the financial oversight of Portsmouth Football Club 2010 Ltd to avoid any confusion in this matter, which is why I am bringing this to your attention now, especially as the FL', former head of compliance was the CEO at the club during which this financial oversight occured. Otherwise from the outside, the perception might exist that the FL are happy with the situation. Indeed, given the current rules governing footballing creditors, the FL may find itself in the slightly embarrassing situation where Portsmouth Football Club 2010 Ltd conveniently deflect the bad Public Relations for non payment of the charities (did I mention for a second time in two years), to the FL, stating that they could not pay the charities monies owed as the FL insist the that players on £25,000 per week who have deferred 25% of their wages, be paid first... afterall they must need it as having to live on £18,000 per week must have been a struggle. Would the FL care to comment? Yours sincerely FC

stop it I gotta work!

... A Tory, Liberal Democrat, Socilaist, Communist and humanist are all stranded on a deserted island. They also have 5 buckets. One bucket is full to the brim of the only fresh water they have. The Socialist suggests they divide the water equally and and each get their own share, the communist agrees but suggests that as he is taller and heavier that the others his share should be slightly more, the Liberal democrat has no idea what to do, but says we he will decide when he knows what everyone else is doing.... The humanist suggests that its not divided but each person should be given what they need when their thirst requires it and what is necessary to keep them alive - he also without saying so would give up some of his share to someone else in greater need or pain. ...meanwhile the Tory has fecked off and drank the lot.

Would think so as its fraud

We paid up, the Saints chosen charities were always given thei monies and we never cheated anyone - only Aviva missed out on a few quid... and will now get some more anyway, as the deal was struck that was fair and acceptable to all... what a difference a decent owner makes. Its teh fact that so many of their fans have DEFENDED their clubs actions for so long that make sme want to puke - had they from day 1 expressed outrage, disgust at how the club had done this and all the other financial mismanagement, you could feel sympathy, but not when they have for so long refused to consider these aspects more than a passing slight embarrassment. If tehy had any decency, the trust would pay the charities out of the pledged cash...

Or doing an Avram?

All clubs have 'potential' - but if you want to get beyond the hard core (which in itself depends on what division you are in), you have to offer the punters something in return... for some its the opposition, for some its success, for others attractive entertaining football and others a decent prawn sandwich and other quality catering. Its a chicken and egg scenario: success attracts more regular follows, but without funding from other sources in very competitive leagues its very difficult for the Derby's, Forest and Saints of this world to begin to realise it all. Its why our 18 mil spent over revenue in 3 years, despite being not the most, has been good value and what the club has achieved remarkable... Football attendences were in massive decline from the early 70s to late 80s. Interesting programme on BC2 on the '70s' last night, suggested this was initially due to a cultural and economic shift - up to teh late 60s and early 70s footbal was a generational passtime, Grandads, sons and grandchildren all hitting the terraces on a saturday - engrained in the working mans culture. By teh mid seventies (so the premise went), many of the fathers and grandfathers had a new (relative) affluence and other pastimes took over and census data was used to back this up... even if that equarted to no more than polishing the Hilman or Rover on the drive of the new semi-detached. It left the terraces to the youth and without the fathers and grandfathers to keep them in check, 'allowed' the terrace culture to evolve into the tribalistic nature that drove the hooligan element... which in turn kept others away. So using the early 80s when we had great success as a benchmark for our potential is flawed. The 90s saw another shift - the Sky years - the new money enable many clubs to build new satdia, cash in on premium priced inner city land and replace crumbling terraces with shiney new identikits compete with plastic seats and what some would say are plastic fans - the ticket prices shot up and families and clowns were encouraged, but with the added all seater restrictions, came further price hikes in response to both demand and the costs associated with the new breed of football wage packet... You could argue that for a club to realise its true potential it needs to attract: All locals with an interest in the local side more regularly - 45K (and we could have sold more) for the paint pot final, shows ther is interest - OK so half of thsoe probably only go to one game a year, but how do you get them to go to more? Folk from the surrounding areas that have a passing interest, but dont see the value/quality in the price you have to pay for a ticket - success would help as does decent infrastructure and ease of access Get the generations going again... again quality, atmosphere and entertainment helps, but you need to catch them young with success. I have no idea what average gate we COULD achieve if we were regularly challenging for a top 8 place, flirting with Europe and were not restricted by capacity so that ticket price bands could make the cost more acceptable and barable for a greater demographic, but to say its limited to x, when we have never been in that position seems just as ignorant a view as thsoe that believe NC will fund CL football inside of 5 years.

'Is its Prog?' Checklist: Gatefold sleeve album cover with 'odd' cover art, lyrics in side and rements of the odd splif having been rolled Capes as part of stage outfits Keyboards Rock 27 artics needed for the lighting and stage show Audience all male Lyrics that could be lifted from Tolkien Only 1 song on the Album...but many 'movements' Complex time signatures that change mid way through a track Wierd chord progressions

Yes its part of the footbal legacy in this country having city centre grounds, and where its been possible to expand these over time, many clubs have done just that - apart from those that realised the value of innnercity land and cashed in to help pay for a newer, larger stadium. Al teh arguments for rtaining a cty centre locatuion are known and I think understood, but like all these things there are pros and cons. I think it all depends on design, infrastructure routes and facilities to ensure you ont lose all the association with the past - sticking up a stadia in the middle of a hideous out of town retail park (Bolton) etc is not exactly appealing to anyone, except those that 'drop the Mrs of to do a nice bit of shopping' whilst they go the match for 87 minutes to get back to the car to beat the rush... Again it comes down to money - no one who has been to a night game at the Allianz Area, lit up in Red, could say its souless - cost a packet mind, but shows that you can evolve and create the nxt part of your history IF you have the imgaination and cash to do something unique - yes its out of town, but the links are good and the the facilities at the venue fantastic... OK so its no pub, but things can evolve and still be good... al chnage is not alwasy bad.

Before seeing what happens in the transfer wndow... as a caveat.. think we should be targeting 14th and higher... got to set a high standard and keep the momentum going

NO Kind of defeats the object of taking part really. I think the side we have now could have scraped 4th from bottom with luck in the prem.. so it would not be progress IMHO

Quite nice that and I am not Right wing - prefer a Cloudy Bay though, but a bit Pricey - check out Stonewall if you like your Marlborough Sauv Blancs

He's Dead... so you may need You tube... but you wont like him he's Left Wing and lets the Repubicans know it...

I ignore the blatently sexist 'nun' posts on the match threads... with their semi exposed delightful norks being a distraction from the serious business of wrrying about how saints are doing.

Dont think anyone is trying hard enough really - come lets extend it the really poor Famine malaria Only 50% chance of seeing your 1st birthday War Child soldiers AIDS TB Dyptheria Cholera Dictators

Well I guess they go together as they have a lot in common....''when finished with the Leg and breast, you stil have a greasy box to stick teh bone in'' boom boom (old ones are the best)

I Use Paragraphs even If in the wrong position

LOL... yes it means you can simply bypass employement law! They can inded then sack them/make them redundent and not paying them compensation wont mean they lose the Golden Share, but suspect the lawyers for the players and PFA may well have something to say about it... as if not liquidated, they would still need to follow HR legislation.....

We won one last year, but this years results not yet published on the FL web site... pompey only won for the first time this year

Enjoyed it. B+

Fair play to them if genuinely due to the experience of an unbaissed 'mystery family' - but suspect sympathey based on ignorance may have played a part... But I think we need to be mature enough to accept that its good to see that despite a record breaking level of debt, attempts to gain a footballing competitive advantage without any financial guarantees, cheating the tax man, charities and local businesses not once, but twice, they have at least got one thing right....

Well I guess that might put off a few of the 'clown dressers' and families with kids;)

- I aim to please Alps... now that I have a rep for tediousness it would be a shame to disappoint!. And another thing.....

Good job I have a sense of humour or you would be on ignore