by Geekins »
14 Jul 2010 22:44
I really hope the rumours on the Portsmouth News are true...
Pompey face player crisis
Pompey's registration embargo will not be lifted until October at the very earliest.
That is the dreaded scenario if, as is now expected, HMRC appeal against the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).
And that would also surely mark the end of David James' Fratton Park career.
Tax chiefs have until midnight tomorrow to lodge their protest over the June 15 agreement between the Blues' creditors.
As it stands, an appeal has still to be registered by any disgruntled non-secured creditor.
However, Andrew Andronikou expects HMRC to act at the last minute in their dogged pursuit to recoup all of the money owed to them in unpaid bills – as revealed on our website portsmouth.co.uk yesterday.
As a consequence, the administrator believes a subsequent appeal hearing would not be held until October or November.
The knock-on effect would mean the Football League maintaining the transfer ban which has been in place on Pompey since October 15 last year.
That would see boss Steve Cotterill head into the new season unable to add to his already threadbare squad, with a host of players still set to be sold to ease crippling debts.
The Blues' only hope of bringing in new faces would be to ask for special dispensation from the Football League should their squad numbers dip below 20.
Pompey have already been given permission to add a goalkeeper to their ranks, with just Liam O'Brien signed on at present.
In the meantime, Andronikou is convinced the long-standing registration embargo is officially here to stay for the time being.
He told The News: 'We believe the HMRC are going to appeal, that is the indication we are getting.
'It's going to be an irritant and, to put it simply, the embargo will stay for a longer period.
'As long as there is an appeal process, the registration embargo will continue to be in force for the foreseeable future.
'However, we expect any appeal hearing to be held in October or November.
'Before then, if the squad is below 20, we can still bring in players, regardless of the embargo. That is allowed and is something we are looking at.'
Pompey squad numbers will be reduced over the next week.
James' future remains in doubt, especially considering he is waiting to see whether the CVA is appealed against before delivering his decision.
The departures of Nadir Belhadj and Papa Bouba Diop were today expected to be officially rubberstamped.
Tal Ben-Haim, Prince Boateng and John Utaka are also likely to be on their way soon.
In addition, the contracts of several youngsters Cotterill does not believe are good enough for first-team football are likely to be cancelled by mutual consent in the next week.
Andronikou added: 'There are a few players who have been around the club for a while we are looking to release.
'They earn £2,000-3,000 a week, so what is the point of having them here if they are not going to play for the club? There is no point whatsoever.'
