Pompey Stars Turn Out To Mark New Era
Former Pompey stars are turning out to support a Pompey Supporters’ Trust fundraising friendly against Hermann Hreidarsson’s Icelandic Premier League side IBV, just days after the PST secured an historic deal to take over the struggling League One side.
Svetoslav Todorov, Mark Kelly, Darren Anderton, Linvoy Primus and Vince Hilaire have all agreed to appear in the match at Fratton Park on Tuesday evening to welcome in the new era at the club.
Club legends Hreidarsson and IBV goalkeeper David James will also switch sides for the last 20 minutes of the game.
Hreidarsson and James both featured in Pompey’s 2008 FA Cup-winning side, Todorov scored the goal which clinched promotion to the Premier League in 2003. Anderton scored in the 1992 semi-final with Liverpool before a big-money move to Spurs, Primus is a Pompey legend who only recently retired and Kelly and Hilaire featured in successful Pompey teams of the 1980s.
Pompey boss Whittingham has pledged to field a strong side for the game which is part of manager Hreidarsson’s club’s pre-season preparations. The Trust has rented Fratton Park for the evening and every penny raised, after expenses, will go towards a community share in Portsmouth FC held by the Pompey Supporters’ Trust.
The negotiations saw international law firm Pinsent Masons advise BDO, the administrators of Portsmouth Football Club, on the deal which will lay the foundation for The Pompey Supporters’ Trust to take over the League One club.
An out of court settlement was reached by BDO and creditors Portpin, prior to a high court hearing which was due to resolve a dispute on the valuation of the club’s grounds and whether or not the PST would be able to buy Portsmouth FC out of administration.
The deal, which is still subject to Football League approval and the necessary signing of paperwork, would see Portsmouth FC become the biggest fan-owned club in the country.
Trevor Watkins, global head of sport at Pinsent Masons, said: ‘With football under increasing scrutiny in terms of how it administers its finances and significant measures being introduced to curtail extravagant spending, the Portsmouth FC administration could well be the last major insolvency that hits the industry. We very much hope so.’
‘This is, perhaps, the most complex football administration ever seen. Testament must go to the considerable effort put in to reach this point by all stakeholders, reflecting the never-say-die attitude of all those involved at the club and its supporters. There are still steps that need to be completed before the take over is final but this is a major step forward.’
‘Once the PST are in control, sticking to sound financial principles, avoiding any temptation to spend for success and ensuring ongoing fan engagement will be critical to long term success. For now though, this is a tremendous step forward and the future is suddenly much brighter for Portsmouth FC. Once the deal is complete, the club will join the south coast footballing renaissance that has seen AFC Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton all progress dynamically in recent times.’
