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Saudi prince latest to be linked with a Pompey takeover
Pompey have refused to comment on reports that a Saudi prince is in talks to take over the club.
Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf - the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland - is reportedly in 'preliminary talks' about investing in Pompey.
The prince - the nephew of King Abdullah - belongs to one of the richest families in the world and has great personal wealth.
Any fresh investment would be a welcome boost for Pompey which this week faces a winding-up petition in the High Court over an unpaid tax bill.
Chief executive Peter Storrie revealed to The News on Saturday that the club were in talks with two potential new investors.
But the club yesterday wouldn't comment on whether the prince was in the frame.
If he did buy Pompey, he would become the club's fifth owner this season, following Balram Chainrai's takeover last week.
The Hong Kong businessman took over the 90 per cent share of Pompey after former owner and Saudi businessman Ali Al-Faraj failed to meet repayment instalments on his 17m loan.
Fans would welcome a new owner with open arms but remained sceptical whether the prince's takeover would become a reality.
Fan John Westwood, said: 'If someone really does want to come in and buy the club, I would welcome it after the fiasco of the last few months.
'It's become farcical and embarrassing. All fans want is someone to come in with some money. At the moment anyone who would come in and stabilise the club and talk with the fans and who has the club's best interests at heart, would be great.
'I won't believe anything now until someone comes in and we can see something happening.
'Pompey fans are so cynical now. They won't believe it until it's in black and white.'
Pompey, who yesterday denied that electricity at their training ground in Eastleigh was to be cut off, were due to attend a hearing in London today in an another attempt to adjourn the winding-up petition at the High Court on Wednesday over an unpaid 7.5m tax bill.
Barry Dewing, chairman of the Portsmouth Independent Supporters Association, said: 'We need someone coming in prepared to deal with the infrastructure of the club. High on the agenda is the off-the-pitch issues. I think Portsmouth, with the right ownership can be a good investment.'
Colin Farmery, spokesman for the Pompey Supporters Trust, said: 'There are two or three potential investors that are interested in buying the club. We need somebody who is coming in with the right philosophy. If a man from the Saudi Arabian royal family is the man with the right intentions then that's good.'
PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAWAF
Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf was born on May 22,1953, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
At present he is the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
He was educated at The Capital Institute High School in Riyadh.
He is a graduate of The School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington DC, and carried out postgraduate studies at the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
He is also president of the Harvard Alumni Association of Saudi Arabia.
In 1995, he was appointed as ambassador to Italy and Malta.
He is married to Princess Fadwa bint Khaled bin Abdallah Al-Saud. They have five children.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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