MPs debate Pompey’s troubles during debate into football ownership
Penny Mordaunt MP
POMPEY were repeatedly mentioned during a debate into football governance in Parliament.
MPs gathered in Westminster Hall yesterday to discuss a report made by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee last year.
The committee’s findings – which are being considered by the government – condemn the ‘poor business practices and unacceptably low levels of transparency’ tolerated by the FA in the running of football clubs.
Their report suggests measures including introducing a form of licensing that would ensure people who take over teams in future really are ‘fit and proper’ and helping fans groups get involved with the ownership of clubs.
During the debate Ms Mordaunt said: ‘I have met the supporters’ trust and been struck by their professionalism, their courage and the way they conduct themselves.
‘There should be no concerns about their abilities.
‘What is now needed is time and a level playing field for the fans to compete.’
She added: ‘It is amazing to Pompey fans that they can spend 10 minutes on Google and find out what the FA could not, that some of these people should not be allowed anywhere near their club.’
The Conservative MP for High Peak in Devon, Andrew Bingham, said he couldn’t believe the FA had allowed Vladimir Antonov, the co-founder of CSI who is now facing fraud charges, to take over the club.
‘Something should have alerted the governing body to this person,’ he said.
Sport minister Hugh Robertson said the FA was due to come back to the government with details of what changes it would make in light of the report, but that if they didn’t the coalition would be forced to legislate on the issue.
He added in relation to Ms Mordaunt’s comments: ‘I wish her well in her discussions with HMRC.
‘I hope the supporters in Portsmouth can be part of an exciting new chapter for the club.’
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Comments
There are 17 comments to this article
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southseasteve
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:44 AMGawd bless ya maam. I think it's fantastic (and about bl**dy time) that the whole issue of club ownership is being looked at - i just wish they could've looked at this about 5 or 6 years ago!
Harry Stotle
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:11 PMPost 11 - She's a damn sight better looking than our other MP, TaskForce. And she could save Pompey. I think I'm in love.
blue bob
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:52 PM@ 3, she is actually a Pompey supporter, & @ 8, good, sensible post as usual.
Hilzee
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:08 PMhttp:??pitchinvasion.net?blog?2010?03?11?fan-ownership-the-bundesliga-model? ............sorry switch out the ? For
Hilzee
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:03 PMI would like it if the FA didn't come back "with details of what changes it would make in light of the report" then the Government would be forced to legislate. I'd like to see them implement a model based on the Bundesliga's 50 plus 1 rule. I know the Hugh Robertson has discussed this. So Penny, learn about the 50+1 rule and propose it. Probably too late for us now, but a good way for the future. We are in a great position to implement the 50+1 rule with the work the Trust have done. Oldredeye, have the Trust discussed this? For more info..... http:pitchinvasion.netblog20100311fan-ownership-the-bundesliga-model ...do the usual. This article gives a well balanced view of the idea....Google Pitch Invasion and Bundesliga.
TtP
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:27 PM@ 8 ~ Good points! I too am not after preferential treatment. However, it is the Football League whom agreedallowed CSI to change the CVA agreed 'Business Plan'! They were the ones whom let CSI 'Invest' in the Playing squad; agreeing the Repayment Plan that fell due in DecJan; which because If You do not Pay Your Football Creditors first, You are in trouble with the FA & FL,which in turn allowed 'Our' TaxVAT liabilities to slip!!! They should be shouldering some of the responsibility, and therefore advance us the Cash due at the end of the Season, to avoid this Winding Up petition! Hopefully today's meeting with HMRC will be positive, allowing us to Unfreeze the accounts and get ALL the members of staff paid for January!!! PUP
TaskForce
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:04 PMGod, poor old Penny looks like she's been on a night out with Westwood in the Newcome Arm in that picture.
TaskForce
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:14 AMWell done Penny now kick arse and start asking questions directly to those fools at the FA &FL.
einstein
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:03 AMthis should bode well not just for pompey in the future but all clubs, the FA and FL do and think sweet FA about lower clubs and lets find out what their fit and proper test consists of shall we, lets get a faceless FA rep to stand up and tell the football world what criterior gave the last owners the green light to ruin our club. I dare them to come clean
blueshirt
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:41 AMpenny mordaunt has made one very telling point here.. she says its amazing that Pompey fans could go on google and in 10 minutes find out what the FA (or the FL) could not, that some of these people should not have been allowed anywhere near the football club...how true that is......The fact is that the FA and the FL could have found out enough information in a matter of minutes to have raised serious doubts about the suitability and viability of our prospective buyers, and had they done so, the sale would not have been permitted to go through, and we would not now be in the situation we currently are in. On that basis alone, the League should be doing much, much more to help us through this crisis which is partly of their making. I am not asking for preferential treatment, or for the club not to be made to face up to its responsibilities, of course not, I accept that Pompey are not blameless, taxes should have been paid, but the basic problem is that the FL's much vaunted and supposedly revised and improved FAPPT failed miserably, and buyers who were unsuitable and dubious were allowed to purchase the club. The league has a moral duty to protect its member clubs, and somebody in authority at the FL HAS to find the backbone to stand up and admit that the FL is partly responsible for the mess we currently find ourselves in. How can the League punish the football club for something the league is partly responsible for??
Exgaffer
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:18 AMAt least Penny Mordaunt is trying to do something Southerdandy, what are you doing apart from making negative comments? It's easy to stand back and brand things a joke, they would remain a joke if left to people with negative attitudes wouldn't they?
khodgkins
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:13 AMThank you Penny Mordaunt MP We need all the help we can get, unfortunately I am not in your constituancey otherwise I would change my colour next election and vote for you. Time is running short, but keep up the pressure.
Knowlie
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:12 AMSorry Southern Dandy, but that's what M.P.s are supposed to do isn't it? For a long time now people have been coming on here asking why the politicians are not supporting us in our ongoing problems, now someone is that's wrong too!
Knowlie
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:08 AMWell done Penny; she's having a right go. By the way, Fratton Park is situated in the Portsmouth South constituency , the M.P.for which is a certain M.H. What efforts is he making on the Club's behalf?
SouthernDandy
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:02 AMAll hot air. MP's are only ever interested in one thing, seeming to appear popular to get enough votes in the next election. Football has had governance issues for years and nothing the Govt , the FA or Football League has done has stopped clubs getting into a mess. Most new "rules" like the F&PPT are rightly shown up to be the joke that they are.
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