trousers

I see someone set up a new company called "PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB LTD" last week..... http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/993d28cae4b39ec03e9ebdc6e028b904/compdetails What's that all about then....?

Neil Allen‏@pn_neil_allen Sam Magri not leaving #Pompey despite Liverpool interest. Appleton says no 'sensible' bid made.

SunSport Now‏@SunSportNow Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, 36, is training with Blackpool with a view to a permanent contract. #lfc

Matt Slater‏@mattslaterbbc Alarming noises from #Pompey but don't forget Birch knows the game. He's playing hardball with UHY, FL/PL, Gaydamak, Chainrai etc

Ian Abrahams‏@Moose_talkSPORT Bad news about Portsmouth maybe not being able to complete the Championship season -what a mess Pompey reached 2 Cup Finals and had Parachute money - where did it all go? Any volunteers to tell him...?

The Birch interview from this morning: @solentsport: Audioboo: #pompey administrator tells Julian Clegg club "going to the wire" -part 1 http://boo.fm/b691967 Audioboo: #pompey administrator Trevor Birch, part 2 of interview on BBC Radio Solent this morning http://t.co/mhPfBRw6 via @solentsport

In a statement, Mr Birch said: ‘Following our discussions with the Premier League and Football League over the past few days, it has emerged that Portsmouth Football Club is unlikely to receive any further parachute payments or other league funding. ‘We had previously stated that there was a real danger of the club running out of cash before the end of the season. The risk of this happening increases substantially without the money from the football authorities. Unless something significant happens, there is a real possibility that we may not be able to fulfil the season’s fixtures. ‘One potential issue appears to come from the assignment of £2.2 million of parachute payments that was made by the old company to a previous owner. We have instructed lawyers to challenge this, but the process may take time. ‘The club is also still owed nearly £300,000 by the CSI administrators and their lawyers, who are withholding the funds as payment for their work in applying to court for administration. PKF is talking to its lawyers to see if this money can be returned to the club. ‘Despite the tremendous support that we’ve received from everyone involved with Portsmouth Football Club, it seems that the club isn’t getting any of the breaks that it needs. The more we uncover, the worse the picture appears to get. ‘The only consolation I can give supporters, staff and players at the moment is that my PKF colleagues and I have not given up hope and will continue to do all we can to save the club. But the clock is ticking.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/fans_bid_to_pack_the_park_raises_2_000_1_3575003 By Rory McKeown Published on Thursday 1 March 2012 07:33 A STAGGERING £2,000 was raised in just 36 hours thanks to a fans-backed initiative to bring supporters flocking to Fratton Park. £2,000 = "Staggering"

That was the first thought that entered my head too. Birch seems to contradict himself....in one breath saying that Gaydamak will get his money back (as decreed by the original CVA) yet in the other breath saying that the original CVA is now dead in the water and creditors from that CVA would now have to join the bunfight for CVA 2, likely ending up with 4p in the £1 (at best). Maybe there was some 'clever' wording in the CVA that allows this to happen? Or maybe the agreement to pay Gaydamak was actually an arrangement outside of the CVA itself, assuming such a third party arrangement is legal of course.

Birch did sound like a man resigned to the inevitable. He couldn't have sounded more glum if he'd tried. But I guess that is standard 'last gasp' tactics to flush out any dilly-dallying potential buyers

We went to the game last night with 4 of our Dutch clients and I asked this very question. They said the only people in their country who are fussed whether they are referred to as Holland or the Netherlands are the c.10% of people in the country who don't live in 'Holland'. Everyone else is ambivalent to it.

Birch basically confirming that he was relying on the £2m+ parachute money to keep the club going but that has now been diverted to Gaydamak. So he's got no money left to run the club. Whoops... Also confirmed the old CVA won't be honoured.

Birch: "there is an element of doubt that we'll complete the season"

Birch: "we're down to the wire"

Come on Mr Birch. Use the word "cheat". That's what you're describing live on air.

We can do it

P.p.s. I shook hands with Graeme Le Saux on the way out of hospitality tonight. Nice chap

Without wishing to compare celebrity deaths (said a man about to do so) but this news about Davy Jones saddened me several multiples more than the likes of Winehouse and Houston. Yes, he achieved fame on the back of a manufactured pop band but you always sensed a huge element of humility and genuine-ness in what he and they did. There aren't many celeb deaths that bring a lump to my throat but this is one. :-(

P.s. Turkish wasn't there ergo he is a rubbish part-time England fan. Logic says so. Ner ner ner ner ner....

Just arrived back at Waterloo. England were sh1te. Robben = different class. That is all.

Just to bring this thread full circle (sort of), Tadanari Lee came on for Havenaar in today's game for Japan. Small world.

Heading off to the game shortly. COYW!

For a split second I thought Sean Connery had started a thread asking about our away kit. (The answer's "white" btw)