Appy issues reminder to his unpaid players
Michael Appleton has reminded his Pompey players why they started playing football in the first place Picture: Robin Jones
Michael Appleton has told his unpaid Pompey troops: Remember why we used to play football.
The Blues boss leads his side to Birmingham City for tonight’s Championship showdown, with the club’s January wages still unpaid amid the ongoing financial crisis at Fratton Park.
Although ex-Pompey owner Balram Chainrai has announced his intentions to cover the wages, players and staff have not received their salaries, with the club still unable to access their frozen bank account as they wait on a validation order from the courts.
Appleton insists he has not spotted a drop in standards or motivation from his players while they wait for their pay.
But he has issued a few gentle reminders to them ahead of tonight’s tough test at St Andrew’s in a bid to keep his men at full throttle.
Appleton said: ‘At the minute, we haven’t got the validation order so, regardless of whether the money is available or not, nobody can pay the wages until the order has been seen by the court.
‘Once that’s done and once that’s lifted, then we will be able to pay wages.
‘People are respectful of the situation and they are professional people who have been around the game long enough.
‘We don’t see it as a long-term thing.
‘Some of them have been through this type of scenario before, which does help.
‘And, ultimately, we sometimes have to remember what we used to play football for.
‘We all used to play and none of us got paid a penny for it because we loved the game.
‘It’s worth giving the players a few little reminders like that and sometimes that helps to put things into perspective.
‘There are also a lot of people at the club who don’t play on a Saturday or a Tuesday night and they are not getting paid, either, but they are still turning up for work every day with a smile on their face.’
High-flying Birmingham are unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions and are undefeated in the Championship at St Andrew’s this season.
But after Pompey’s home clash with Hull City was postponed at the weekend, Appleton believes his men can take advantage and build on the impressive 3-0 win at Peterborough in their last outing.
Appleton said: ‘Birmingham are in a rich vein of form at the moment.
‘They are a team who are scoring a lot of goals and not conceding many.
‘But we just want to make sure that we back up a decent performance at Peterborough.
‘It’s a shame we didn’t play at the weekend because everyone was desperate to play.
‘But the players should be fresh – hopefully, that will be the case.
‘I’m sure they will show the same sort of attitude and determination that they showed at Peterborough.
‘Hopefully, that will be enough to get us something from the game.’
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Comments
There are 29 comments to this article
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vanman
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:25 PMLets be realistic here...Appy is doing ok....nothing more nothing less. He is in a win win situation. When we lose its due to the problems and if we win its all down to him. He cant lose..lets not get too carried away!!!
wjd
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:32 PMPOST 4 - The Trust, and in particular, Scott and Ashley, is doing it's best to ensure there is a club for us to support in future years. What particular efforts are you making? You say £1.8m is 'paltry', so maybe you would like to pay it off for Pompey? No......? Well what a surprise! Before you insult people and call them potless, etc. maybe you should consider engaging your considerable intelect in doing something positive to help address the situation. Maybe you could get elected to the Trust board as Scott and Askley have, then show them how to make all the necessary money?......Then again, maybe not!
lew11
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:50 PMkpf blue-am going through the emails-really impressed.cic looks good.i have a couple of reservations,will email tomorrow.above all else you are so positive.appleton ,we played a great game ,why were the lessons not learnt?we switched off but that was the same thing last game.get real nasty with your overpaid players and stop being mister nice guy with them.we are dominating games away from home and end up with zero.this club will live for ever and you are doing a very good job but you gotta put the heat on now.
pfcbutton
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:48 PMHard done by tonight by the sounds of it .. if we are going to lose to anyone, then better it's a team closing the gap on them down the road ... we will pick up enough points to stay up anyway, if appy is given the chance!
pfcbutton
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:38 PMget in there millwall 3-2 up ..
KPFBlue
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:26 PMCan't get Solent here so listening on Bristol City player - you have to be very resourceful to be a Pompey supporter! lol
lew11
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:18 PMput on radio solent and listen to the pompey chimes-fantastic support
Hilzee
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:29 PM@4. The Trust have created plan B, mobilized people in our community, and along with other supporters groups, businesses, and politicians they are working hard to secure some funding. All very tangible. If your garbled post is anything to go by, you'd struggle with 'talking the talk', let alone walking the walk.
paul-philippines
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:21 PMI'm well Happy with Appy. A Pompey win at Brum would be great. PUP.
Nothing but the blues
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:09 PMI agree with most on here. Particularly 2, 3, 13 and 14 but even 19. Well almost. PUP
carisbrooke
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:03 PMI wish I believed in fairy godmothers, if ever a man deserves to have a wish or two come true it is Michael Appleton. A stable club with supportive owners and directors, a decent transfer kitty and the authority to use it, plus the best fans in the country at a rebuilt Fratton Park. Promotion, a cup or two and regular european football, all on a balanced budget and sound finance. The trouble with dreams is that we have to wake up and cope with reality. Sad.
waterloovilleblue
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:00 PMDont panic , just seen BC coming out of HSBC with a huge bag of cash !
saintolly
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:56 PMHe's the best person you could want in the situation your in, good luck tonight from a Scummer, show the World its not about money!
Harry Stotle
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:35 PMPost 6 - "Remember when you were young..." Yes a good team talk, and the rest goes ".... and shone like the sun, Shine on you crazy diamonds...." Yes, I am as mad as Syd Barrett!
ALANBALLSBOOTS
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:34 PMYEAH I REMEMBER WHY I GO TO WORK ..................MONEY
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