Plea for Government to buy Fratton Park
PLEA The Government has been asked to buy Fratton Park
THE Government has been urged to buy Fratton Park to safeguard Pompey’s future.
City council chief executive David Williams and Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock sent a joint letter to Sport England, the body that encourages sport in the UK, asking it to intervene.
Mr Hancock said a temporary purchase of Fratton Park from public funds would give former owner Balram Chainrai an exit route, potentially making the sale of the club easier.
He said: ‘We have got to do everything we can to help the club. We’ve written to Sport England asking it to consider temporarily buying the ground as a safety net for the future.
‘I don’t know if it is a possibility, but it would only be in the short term until a new owner can be found, then they could sell it on.
‘That would get Balram Chainrai out of the picture which might encourage someone else to come forward.
‘At this point it is only an idea, but I’ve been asking people to share whatever ideas they have.
‘Sport England is there to promote sport and a successful football club is great for sport involvement.’
The letter sent to Sport England said: ‘The council has effectively secured the ground from alternative investment, but the risk remains that access to the ground could be restricted while ownership remains unresolved.
‘We would be grateful for your advice on what support Sport England can provide to secure on-going access to the ground.
‘Clearly, securing the ownership of the ground would be the objective.
‘We’d be very pleased to meet to discuss this with you as a matter of urgency, bearing in mind that the administrators will soon be making their decision.’
It comes as Penny Mordaunt, Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, continues to press for a meeting between officials of HMRC and Pompey in an effort to give the club more time to settle its tax bill after the Prime Minister said in the Commons last week that talks should be held.
She said: ‘I’ll be raising the issue again on Thursday during a debate into a select committee report on football ownership.
‘A lot of people will be mentioning Pompey I’m sure, because it is one of the most current and extreme examples.
‘I’m confident HMRC will meet with the football club, it’s now just a matter of setting a date.’
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Comments
There are 128 comments to this article
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BillyTheFish
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:55 AMUnbelievable, an new low, how about we apply to Barnardos or maybe the salvation army to give us a hand up. Time to get real, the chances of BC bailing us out = 0%, the chances of a new owner prepared to chuck in 32 miilion just to settle the debts = 0%. There is only 1 alternative, option B, and wotever guise it takes. No point moaning and groaning and being negative, unless someone else can come up with a better alternative and NOW, people need to resign themselves to the inevitable, its all there is.
Fatcatpat
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:46 PM@125 """""" pompeyfanfor60years Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:52 PM Post 95. In 7 or 8 years I and about 50% of our fan base will be dead so good luck with plan B""" I think we need some younger fans as well as some younger players. I aim to be around a bit longer than 8 years myself, but it has to be said the crowd does seem to be getting older as the policemen get younger!
royal blue geezer
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:02 PMa solution to Fratton Park maybe to follow what Coventry City Council and a charity trust have done with the Ricoh Arena
pompeyfanfor60years
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:52 PMPost 95. In 7 or 8 years I and about 50% of our fan base will be dead so good luck with plan B.
bluelagoon
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:43 PMOf course it will never happen, but someone seems to have thought there might be a vote or two in grandstanding...
kiwistu
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:39 PMif gov helps pompey then hearts will demand saving, rangers will demand help from govt and so on. itll never happen
kski
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:28 PM119 Wo OZ that is a know Unknown! The info is available and just requires a bit of reading between the lines. Also reference Swindon Town (AA) and Southend to see similar scenarios. I remember looking at the same issues when We ( Sorry an SFC fan) went into admin. from memory the TO of a championship club is £12m , the turnover of league 1 is £8m. factor your costs accordingly and pay players based on 60% of TO. It really should not be difficult. ....... Regards the Land - the Tesco deal is no longer current, but I am sure it could be resurrected and sold as a package of civic enhancement. .. Best of luck - I see mr Storrie thinks he has a stain on his character, as a saints fan I find that an insult to our club. :-)
OldPompeyBlue
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:26 PMWhat a day with brealking news that Capello has resigned. There is only one Harry Redknapp.
Plymouth Graham
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:21 PMhttp:www.pompey-fans.com this is interesting
wizard of oz
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:34 PMIts all or nothing, if Pompey is liquidated because no new owner is foundand r Chainrai cuts his losses, then we lose FP and the land. PCC will not allow the land to be a derelict site, forget abouut spaces it will all come down to money for PCC. So no FP and no Pompey. I think its inevitable now that Pompey will cease to exist in its current format, as each day goes bye the debts get bigger and the value of PFC goes down. Its Plan B, we start again. kski good comments again, where abouts do you work?
Fatcatpat
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:30 PMIt's possible that the business rates could be re-calculated for a lower division club. Also if the business turnover was small enough, rate relief might apply. Still lots of other bills, not to mention the capital costs....
PO48RA
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:15 PMEvening gentlemen. Before l start for those who don't know the Hull game is now Tuesday 27th March. Well back to the subject regarding AFC Portsmouth or whatever the new club is called could l ask these questions for those who want to use FP for a new club. (1) Where is the money coming from to buy or rent FP ? (2) Where is the money coming from for the upkeep of FP ? (3) Where is the 1.4m coming from for the business rates ? (4) Where is the staff and players wages coming from ? (5) Where is the money coming from for insurances. If gates are around lets say 8,000 at £10 a ticket thats £160,000 a month with two home games a month which would'nt pay the business rates so without a new owner it would be impossible to use FP.
kski
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:33 PM112 very true My original post went - When AA held the company in admin the land was valued ( there is a charge in the admin accounts). My guess is that BC knows the value of the real estate (ex PFC) £25 to £30m . He disposed of the club and the risk, but kept an anchor on the land via Portpin. 1 Should the club be bought he makes money on the debt and leasing the ground. 2 Should the Club offer to buy him out he makes money 3 Should the club Liquidate he has primary creditor status and can dictate the disposal of the ground. The value of the land is in redevelopment. With those options and a Tenant in PFC that are not likely to (raise sufficient funds) to build a new stadium, is there any other way to move them on? Well CSI may have done that for him. He has been looking at this long term, and would no doubt be happy to sit on FP for five years, whilst it decays, and council changes it's position. He stalls gaydamak's investment, and the value of the land will increase, whilst the developers sell the bright new future? Seems a bit lilke PFC have been shubted between holding companies, losing value at each stage.
kski
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:16 PMWith regards to the football club PFC. The real club is not Bc or any owners it is the supporters, the common goal, the friendships and the sense of community that brings. To say that has to be at fratton Park makes no sense to me. PFC supporters create an atmosphere at different away locations every fortnight. Therefore a new venue could be the same people, just a different location. With ref to plan B - could a new club afford to play at FP. Would a new club want to finance the mortgage for BC?
Hilzee
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:01 PMOldredeye, can you please set out the trust's plan b as a timeline as much as you can please? E.g. Liquidation>lodge new club within 21 days> etc. Is there someone ready to buy FP if liquidated?
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