Portsmouth TV Cash To Pay Debts
The Premier League is to use financially-stricken Portsmouth’s share of the latest television payments to pay off the club’s debts to other top-flight sides.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford are all owed money by Portsmouth and the Premier League will split £7m between them.
The action is allowed within league rules to protect clubs that are owed money from transfers.
A Premier League spokesman said: ‘The clubs may have agreed a deal in principle but it is up to the Premier League board to decide whether there can be a continuation.’
The club’s non-playing staff were paid their December wages at the start of this week and the players are expected to finally be paid after the club’s owners secured a short-term bank loan.
The crisis does not look like easing in the longer term and fans are planning further protests against owner Ali Al Faraj.
The Professional Footballers’ Association is keeping a close watch on the situation and will send a representative to meet players this week.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: ‘We will find out tomorrow whether in fact the players have been paid and then decide on any strategy for the future.
‘We have become used to any number of financial problems at various clubs but you do not expect it at the top level.
‘It is certainly not good for the image of the game or the Premier League, and it’s a timely warning that football needs to keep a sense of financial propriety.’
