Pompey Players Wait On Wages

Players of Championship strugglers Portsmouth FC are still owed wages from January, despite former owner Balram Chainrai claiming he had covered them, according to boss Michael Appleton.

Appleton told BBC Radio Solent: ‘At the minute we haven’t got the validation order. Once that is done and the account is unfrozen we can pay the players.’

The club was issued with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs in January over unpaid tax, after failing to meet two payments totalling £1.6m and will appear at the Royal Courts of Justice on 20^th February.

Pompey have had their bank accounts frozen as a result and have so far failed to gain a validation order.

According to media reports, Chainrai is flying to the UK to sort out the stricken club’s future, with the Hong Kong-based businessman still owed around £17m.

The club became the first Premier League club to enter administration in 2010 and were consequently deducted nine points on their way to relegation from the top flight.

There is an urgency to complete a deal with fresh backers, as investment is needed if Portsmouth are to meet ongoing running costs, with any potential purchaser requiring at least £12m as proof of funds – plus assurances they could meet repayments to former creditors Chainrai and Alexandre Gaydamak.