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Pompey Takeover Saga


Fitzhugh Fella

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Oh God. Claridge (skate ******) just asking on 5Live how HMRC have "allowed" the Skates to get into £1.6m debt with them. Erm, because they didn't pay their tax bill for 2 months, Steve. It's not the fault of HMRC, you ****.

 

:facepalm:

 

They really are inbred retards :)

 

Half the 'fans' are moaning about HMRC for 'picking on' them by issuing a WUP so soon after they defaulted. then you get morons like Steve the **** asking how HMRC let them build up the debt!

 

The level of understanding - or not - down there is immense!

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I wonder when AA / DL are going to admit that they're under a transfer embargo.

 

They won't sanction player sales because they know they can't replace them. They just haven't told the fans yet.

 

FL rules say that they give 28 days grace after the tax bill is due for the club to pay. If they don't pay, they apply an embargo until they do. The PAYE / NI for the 30 Nov wages was due on 22 December. The 28th day after that was 19 January...or the day they signed Etuhu (unbelievable - they sign a player they can't afford, on the last day of their own, special transfer window).

 

I wonder when this will all come to light....

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I wonder when AA / DL are going to admit that they're under a transfer embargo.

 

They won't sanction player sales because they know they can't replace them. They just haven't told the fans yet.

 

FL rules say that they give 28 days grace after the tax bill is due for the club to pay. If they don't pay, they apply an embargo until they do. The PAYE / NI for the 30 Nov wages was due on 22 December. The 28th day after that was 19 January...or the day they signed Etuhu (unbelievable - they sign a player they can't afford, on the last day of their own, special transfer window).

 

I wonder when this will all come to light....

 

Etuhu showed he wasn't the brightest Prawn in the Cocktail when he had his little run in with The Law. He pretty much proved it by signing for poopey and then not getting paid.

 

lol

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They're well and truly stuffed. No-one will buy them with the £20 million debt to the previous owners. So administration again, points deduction and relegation. This time I think that HMRC will get their money. They're fed up with the football debt rule and looking to give someone a good kicking. So expect a court case and no acceptance of Administration terms. There is a very real risk that they will end up having to do an Aldershot or Wimbledon and start again. Might end up with a properly run football club, which might be best for all concerned in the long run. We were lucky and got good buyers.

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They're well and truly stuffed. No-one will buy them with the £20 million debt to the previous owners. So administration again, points deduction and relegation. This time I think that HMRC will get their money. They're fed up with the football debt rule and looking to give someone a good kicking. So expect a court case and no acceptance of Administration terms. There is a very real risk that they will end up having to do an Aldershot or Wimbledon and start again. Might end up with a properly run football club, which might be best for all concerned in the long run. We were lucky and got good buyers.

 

It's liquidation time.... 20th of February is the court date.

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Oh God. Claridge (skate ******) just asking on 5Live how HMRC have "allowed" the Skates to get into £1.6m debt with them. Erm, because they didn't pay their tax bill for 2 months, Steve. It's not the fault of HMRC, you ****.

 

:facepalm:

 

If I see him again in Torquay this year I am defo going to have words!

 

HMRC didnt get paid thier tax, gave them till the following bill was due and when that didnt come either they put a stop to it. Its not their fault that Pompeys Tax bill is so big, that would be down to the quality over quantity BS they went for!

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Cortese has to offer to pay off their 1.6 million in return for Nigel having top pick of 2 or 3 of their best players. They may be Skates but playing again in the Premiership must be attractive to players and not having to move away from Hampshire.

 

Why... we could give their caravans free parking under the Northam bridge or at Staplewood. :)

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Etuhu showed he wasn't the brightest Prawn in the Cocktail when he had his little run in with The Law. He pretty much proved it by signing for poopey and then not getting paid.

 

lol

 

He is a lucky man though, compared to some....

 

when released he was given a new suit, 10 cigs, and a map to the tube station....:rolleyes:

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If they pay the wages and ignore the debt and incur more debt with HMRC, then I am pretty sure that is illegal....anyone confirm??

 

I don't see how the court will unfreeze their account unless Pompey also agree to settle the debt with the creditor who served the WUP, HMRC. So that means they'd have to have £1.6m plus this month's wage bill (£2m+?) in their frozen accounts.

 

And if they have that, my name is John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood.

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I've been mulling around a number of scenarios and not sure which one is most likely, but i'm sure one of them comes close.

 

lumpitt is playing a dangerous game if he is vetoing sales that enables creditors to be paid, he could become personally liable. I am guessing his reasoning is the parachute money, will fill the hole....when it arrives and selling the better players will make the club less attractive to potential buyers. He has already said he will ask for some parchute money to be paid early, so I think we can assume that was his first port of call.......... So

 

1) Have they said "No"

2) Have they said "Yes, but that gives you sporting advantage, so you can have it but with a points deduction"

3) Have they said "You can have it, if you can prove you can still pay the CVA on top of what we advance you" (Which might suggest the figures don't add up)

4) Have they said "You get the advance, but it goes straight to the tax man and staff wages and you don't get as much (Lost interest etc.) as you would have done"

 

We know they are not adverse to advancing money and we know that lumpitt said thats what he was going to try and do........... So something doesn't add up, I wonder if someone has finally got some teeth.

 

Interesting points, though I'm not so sure about the bit in bold there - it was the Premier League who advanced them money before, and I don't think the Football League has any track record of acting similarly. I always thought the previous advance was born out of desperation to protect the PL's sacred brand - what could look worse than a member of the world's biggest and best league (as they proclaim it to be) going pop mid-season? They also knew that the Pompey problem would pass on to the FL at the end of the season, particularly once nine points were deducted.

 

Would the FL be as accommodating? I rather doubt it, though time will of course tell. It's quite likely that Lampitt is doing his damnedest to persuade the FL to cough up an early payment, but that his request is not being enthusiastically received. As you suggest, if they do offer anything it will come with a hefty price tag attached. My guess, though, is that the FL will simply bide their time until either (a) Pompey get liquidated; or (b) they have inarguable cause to lob a substantial points penalty in their direction.

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They're well and truly stuffed. No-one will buy them with the £20 million debt to the previous owners. So administration again, points deduction and relegation. This time I think that HMRC will get their money. They're fed up with the football debt rule and looking to give someone a good kicking. So expect a court case and no acceptance of Administration terms. There is a very real risk that they will end up having to do an Aldershot or Wimbledon and start again. Might end up with a properly run football club, which might be best for all concerned in the long run. We were lucky and got good buyers.

 

At least our previous Chairman concentrated on infrastructure - it gave someone a reason to buy and, even then, we still only had one step forward. Quite where they're going to pick someone up to pay their wage bill I have no idea.... even if they end up getting the club without ground for £1 from an administrator. It'll cost £10m to get them to the end of June....even then I suspect none of their big earners will be out of contract

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We were lucky and got good buyers.

 

While we were fortunate to get someone of Leibherr's calibre the fact that we were bought by proper business people is nothing to do with luck.

 

For all his faults (and there were plenty) Rupert Lowe did put the club on firm foundations. The buyers got a well run club, superb stadium, good training facilities and academy with conveyer belt of talent that almost repaid the cost of the club in one go.

 

Pompey havn't had proper business people owning the club for years. Since the tax dodger they've been owned by a money laundering gun-runner, a publicity seeking skint arab, an arab that doesn't exist, a reluctant money lender and a bunch of Russian criminals.

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Just for good measure.... and stolen from one of their sites.

 

If they fail to pay the first payment of the CVA on March 1st 2012............

 

The creditors can claim 100% of their orginal debt (SO the 20 million becomes a 100 million debt (Again), now that would put a smile on HMRC's case, espeacially if they won the the football creditors rule in the mean time.

[h=2]What happens if the debtor company does not comply with the terms of the CVA?[/h]The terms of the CVA will deal with this in most cases. Often, the CVA will provide that, on the debtor company's default:

  • The supervisor may petition for the company's liquidation.
  • The creditors of the debtor company cease to be bound by the CVA, allowing them to pursue the debtor company for the balance of the debt due.
  • The supervisor must distribute any assets that he holds in partial satisfaction of the company's debts
    http://plc.practicallaw.com/9-385-9881
     
     

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While we were fortunate to get someone of Leibherr's calibre the fact that we were bought by proper business people is nothing to do with luck.

 

For all his faults (and there were plenty) Rupert Lowe did put the club on firm foundations. The buyers got a well run club, superb stadium, good training facilities and academy with conveyer belt of talent that almost repaid the cost of the club in one go.

 

Pompey havn't had proper business people owning the club for years. Since the tax dodger they've been owned by a money laundering gun-runner, a publicity seeking skint arab, an arab that doesn't exist, a reluctant money lender and a bunch of Russian criminals.

 

Good post

 

I think in the current situation it is good to re-visit some points

 

Under Lowe we had fans who owned a share in their club. (How many skates would know what a share certificate was even IF they are now worthless?)

 

The club tried to seek out funding to survive - 30 million (how much do poopey owe?)

 

Our Admin was brought on because we had the misfortune to be stupid with money for one season right as the worst of the Global Crisis hit. At the time, Aviva would have been quite happy to leave the Mortgage in place on the stadium allowing new owners leeway.

 

The Liebherrs bought the club (allegedly) for 14mil and got 15 mil back a year later for AOC.

 

YET IT STILL TOOK 3 YEARS TO FIND A BUYER

 

Poopey have around 22 hours

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Do not get your hopes up yet.

 

Portsmouth will get their Validation Order by the end of the week

 

The account freeze will be lifted and wages/bills paid assuming there is enough in the account!

 

HMRC will argue that they have been deprived of tax from the club before and the freeze should stand

 

Portsmouth FC will argue it is a different club and that the freeze will stop them trading because players contracts will be null and void without payment, suppliers will not trade with them without payment.

 

They will say the owners of the club are in Administration not the football club. Buyers for the club are being sought which will resolve the cash flow position and that the WUP on 20th Feb is the correct time to review the position.

 

Court will side with them but with a severe warning on what can and cannot be paid pending 20th hearing.

 

If they do not have a buyer by 20th Feb you can begin to get hopes up.

 

The toaster is on standby

Edited by Weston Saint
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Etuhu showed he wasn't the brightest Prawn in the Cocktail when he had his little run in with The Law. He pretty much proved it by signing for poopey and then not getting paid.

 

lol

 

Correct. Compare, by way of contrast, Billy Sharpe's statement: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16794210.stm

"I am delighted that I am here and joining a really big club with a strong squad of players, hopefully I can be a cog in the team that helps get this huge club into the Premier League"

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.

 

YET IT STILL TOOK 3 YEARS TO FIND A BUYER

 

Poopey have around 22 hours

 

Phil, it was 14 million less the surman money. The 3 year statement is just silly, regardless of the fact that lowe may have been seeking investment or even the sale of the club for some time (Would have been difficult given the diverse shareholding), we were sold because we were in admin and the club was available for a bargain price...... can't even remember how long we were in admin.

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We've had some half priced owner twice

And miles and miles of empty turnstiles

Dodgies, bank freeze and Bad Company LP's

Poor games, toilet chains, buyers names

Had some grief

Found Avram Grant tracksuit

From a thief in Hortons Heath, Heath, Heath,

Heath, Heath, Heath, Heath, Heath

 

No income tax, no VAT

No Mahwhinney, no penalty

Jan or Feb, skint and broke

We'll only cut prices for Pulis' Stoke

 

Good bye Fratton Park

Viva Tescos Extra

Long live Moneyfields

C'est magnifique cheating Skate

Magnifique Takeover Thread

Edited by St Chalet
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Oh God. Claridge (skate ******) just asking on 5Live how HMRC have "allowed" the Skates to get into £1.6m debt with them. Erm, because they didn't pay their tax bill for 2 months, Steve. It's not the fault of HMRC, you ****.

 

:facepalm:

 

That's the entire point of the WUP... because the HMRC isn't letting them build up the debt any more :lol:

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Cortese has to offer to pay off their 1.6 million in return for Nigel having top pick of 2 or 3 of their best players. They may be Skates but playing again in the Premiership must be attractive to players and not having to move away from Hampshire.

 

 

Awesome plan....with one tiny flaw...they haven't got 2 or 3 players that could cut it in the Premiership.

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Between now and Feb 20th they have Hull and Ipswich visiting.

Even if they sold out both matches..and had no season ticket holders p.. 2 x 20,000 x £20= £800,000

 

They are more sunk than one of Cala's fantasy casinos.

 

And the weather is getting colder. Would be heartbreak for them if either of those games was called off due to the weather.....

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I don't see how the court will unfreeze their account unless Pompey also agree to settle the debt with the creditor who served the WUP, HMRC. So that means they'd have to have £1.6m plus this month's wage bill (£2m+?) in their frozen accounts.

 

Spot on. That account will only be unfreezed if it is to be used to pay the taxman. Taxes first, wages a firm second. So in my eyes that account must have £1.6m or it won't be touched.
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Do not get your hopes up yet.

 

Portsmouth will get their Validation Order by the end of the week

 

Maybe - but HMRC will contest it

 

The account freeze will be lifted and wages/bills paid assuming there is enough in the account!

 

HMRC will argue that they have been deprived of tax from the club before and the freeze should stand

 

And if the bank account is unfrozen, I understand that HMRC can insist on the debt from their WUP being cleared. This would result in £800k being cleared immediately. A further WUP to be issued by HMRC and a repetition of this process.

 

Portsmouth FC will argue it is a different club and that the freeze will stop them trading because players contracts will be null and void without payment, suppliers will not trade with them without payment.

 

To imply that there is no relationship with old company and new company is just plain daft (but inevitably something PFC will try). Who is due to pay the CVA? Is it the old company or is the new company?

 

They have reportedly had offers for their players during the open transfer window. They have turned these down, what logical reason could there be for this? If PFC argues that the offers that they have received were less than the liabilities on player contracts, then this adds fuel to the argument that they are trading whilst insolvent, and actually their liabilities outweigh their assets. When you add in the evident cash flow problem, then they are insolvent. Close them down.

 

They will say the owners of the club are in Administration not the football club. Buyers for the club are being sought which will resolve the cash flow position and that the WUP on 20th Feb is the correct time to review the position.

 

Court will side with them but with a severe warning on what can and cannot be paid pending 20th hearing.

 

The court will ultimately decide, this much is true. But the court will have to decide if the company has the funds to continue trading (at the ongoing risk to other creditors - which includes HMRC), and balance this obvious lack of funds with a likelihood of being bought out. It is not the Court's place to gamble taxpayer and creditor money. They did this last time and I do not believe they will do it again (particularly as HMRC will want to protect their corner). If there is no buyer in the pipeline, with proved funds, by Feb 20th, then the court must close them down.

 

How much is due on 1st March for the FIRST of their CVA repayments?

 

If they do not have a buyer by 20th Feb you can begin to get hopes up.

 

The toaster is on standby

 

Personally, I think (and I hope) that if they do not have a (very nearly) signed and sealed buyer by the 20th, they will be liquidated.

 

Having just read that if they miss their first CVA payment, the creditors position returns to pre-CVA levels, this may be the best way for current shareholders to maximise their return on investment.

 

It's a very murky world at the bottom of a pond......

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lets be realistic, they don't have the money for the wages and the tax, this month, nor for the next few months.

There is no way the CVA will get paid let alone started.

 

Their only opportunity to reduce costs and raise capital is a one day firesale tomorrow.

 

I think they need approx £15M to get to the summer.

The only person who could get that sort of amount paid in full tomorrow is Storrie who valued the squad at some mental level back in the day.

 

I would have some sympathy if -

a. they hadn't ignored the previous administration.

b. they hadn't ignored the previous transfer embargo.

c. they hadn't presented false documents to a court to sign players for our cup game.

d. the few didn't keep peddling ridiculous myths.

e. they had learned a single lesson from previous overspending.

f. they weren't still cheating.

g. they had been punished.

h. there were less inbreds following them.

i. someone with integrity had formed a new club to chase away the crooks that have raped the sport while wearing a blue shirt.

j. they hadn't been serial tax evaders.

k. they hadn't been owned and funded by child-maimers.

l. they hadn't been owned and funded by organised crime.

m. they hadn't taken the p1ss out of children's charities.

n. dirty Avram hadn't made his funny little speech.

o. they admitted they are neither plucky nor the bestest.

 

and finally, I might have some sympathy if they just stop blaming the league and the taxman for their own blatantly insolvent and criminal business practices.

They have been run by crooks and idiots and the fans have loved it - Wemberly, Wemberly etc - well now it's judgement day - is that 1-0 win over a bankrupt mid-table championship side still worth it?....

 

It's effing ridiculous, put the poor beast down, it's terminally sick and horribly diseased, show some mercy.

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And the weather is getting colder. Would be heartbreak for them if either of those games was called off due to the weather.....

 

Hpe they don't get any frozen pipes in the loos after all that investment.

 

Lol if they can't play due to elf n safe tea 'cos they can't pay the plumber

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Were they ever issued a WUP last time around? Or is this new and much more serious development for them?

 

HMRC issued a winding-up petition just over two years ago. This went to court, where Pompey brandished lawyers, claims of saleable assets (squad with an apparent value of £38M or so!) plus tales of several parties interested in buying them. All of which swayed the court towards leniency, with the instruction that Pompey produce a full and thorough statement of their finances (I forget the term used for this by the court). They were given two weeks to do this, as I recall. Before they were next due in court, however, Chainrai put the business into administration, thus dodging that particular bullet.

 

So, it's not new, but I can't imagine that the hearing on the 20th of next month will go so easily for them.

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HMRC issued a winding-up petition just over two years ago. This went to court, where Pompey brandished lawyers, claims of saleable assets (squad with an apparent value of £38M or so!) plus tales of several parties interested in buying them. All of which swayed the court towards leniency, with the instruction that Pompey produce a full and thorough statement of their finances (I forget the term used for this by the court). They were given two weeks to do this, as I recall. Before they were next due in court, however, Chainrai put the business into administration, thus dodging that particular bullet.

 

So, it's not new, but I can't imagine that the hearing on the 20th of next month will go so easily for them.

 

In the eyes of the law that was a different company.

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Etuhu showed he wasn't the brightest Prawn in the Cocktail when he had his little run in with The Law. He pretty much proved it by signing for poopey and then not getting paid.

 

lol

 

:lol:

 

If Etuhu asks for a one to one meeting with Limpitt to "discuss" not being paid, then he (Limpitt) would be well advised to have some muscle present to protect himself.

 

I wonder if Voldemort would volunteer?

 

michaelappleton_20110730.jpg

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http://www.companyrescue.co.uk/company-rescue/guides/what-is-a-winding-up-petition

 

Seems to me reading this that the important paragraph is:-

Paying the debt & then obtaining a Validation order is generally the only way to get a new account opened and the assets released by the bank. We can advise on this process which requires an application to court and obviously not insubstantial legal fees. If you need advice on a validation order contact us.

 

No expert & some may know a way around it, but I can't see reading that, how they will get the accounts unfrozen.

 

And Poorsmouth & that statement (paying the Debt) don't go together.

I can't believe how the deluded inbred idiots are still blaming everyone else but themselves. Especially that deluded inbred in the Van on local news, just need a bit of luck & about time something went our way AARRGGHH!!!

WHAT don't they get. They have players they can't afford to pay. They have player liabilities that mean they probably can't sell them as it would cost to much to pay their contracts up. they have no revenue stream, now they are blaming HMRC for freezing there bank account thereby saving the Tax Payer the 1.6-mil in it for what they owe. Instead of letting them SP**k it down the Toilet again. They had 1-whole month of the transfer window to try to sort themselves out of this mess. But have made NO effort to do anything about their situation once again 22-hrs 40-mins to go Lumpitt DFSCB they are the Turd that just wont flush away.

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http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/grant_leadbitter_and_damien_delaney_linked_in_five_man_pompey_swoop_1_1191208

 

With just 48 hours left of the January transfer window, we understand Paul Jewell would be happy to let both his skipper and experienced defender join Pompey if it tipped the balance in his hunt for Jason Pearce, Joel Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson.

While Delaney might be offered in just a loan deal until the end of the season, Leadbitter could be allowed to leave Town on a free.

Despite being the club captain, the midfielder has often struggled to live up to his £2.6million price tag and it seems likely he will leave Ipswich anyway when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

The sticking-point could be Leadbitter and Delaney’s reluctance to join a club in turmoil.

 

I don't think "in turmoil" is quite the correct phrase. I think the sticking point for Cheats FC skating around the transfer embargo is that players are probably a little bit reluctant to join a club that cannot pay its players.

 

If Krap Nottarf or TCWTB isn't a turn off, that certainly is.

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