THIS WEEK IN 1975: two senior Pompey directors quit their jobs

Mr Springings, whose 25 years on the board included two as chairman, and Mr Oliver, who was a former vice-chairman, tendered verbal resignations during a lengthy board meeting two days prior to the club’s financial plea.

While secretary Jimmy Dickinson maintained on behalf of chairman John Deacon that no resignations could be accepted until written notice had been given, the outbound pair maintained that they had quit.

‘We have resigned and that is final,’ commented Mr Oliver, whose grandfather was one of Pompey’s founders 77 years earlier.

‘I don’t want to say anything which is going to harm the club, but I felt that in the present financial climate it was time for me to leave.

‘I am not a John Deacon who can help substantially in a financial manner; it seemed better that I should make way for others.’

These resignations marked the fourth and fifth staff departures at the club in 14 months.