Storrie: Troublemakers out to get us
Peter Storrie today slammed the troublemakers trying to undermine the future of Pompey.
And he is convinced Sulaiman Al Fahim will be the Blues' new owner by the second week of July.
The club's executive chairman has been incensed at weekend reports claiming disgraced ex-Thai prime minister and former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is involved in the Arab property tycoon's proposed buyout.
If that proved to be the case, it would sound the death knell on the deal Pompey fans were banking on transforming the club.
It was also alleged Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards help set up the deal.
Speaking to The News, the accusations have been furiously refuted by Storrie.
It follows separate reports of concerns over the length of the on-going due diligence process.
But Storrie has hit out at the 'nonsense' and has been quick to reassure Pompey fans everything remains on course for Al Fahim to capture the club.
He said: ''There continues to be a lot of rubbish written about this club. At one stage it was finances, yet the majority of the debt is Sacha's (Gaydamak).
'Now it's this. There has been so much nonsense. But I can assure the supporters everything is fine.
'I have never ever talked with Shinawatra about the club, that's the fact of it.
'I have been dealing solely with Sulaiman Al Fahim and his team – unfortunately there are certain parties that seem to have it in for the football club.
'There are people who cannot get it through their heads and want to believe anything to the contrary, no matter what we say.
'These are exciting times for the club and unfortunately all some people want to do is try to rubbish all the good going on here.
'The truth is we are in due diligence and hope to get it completed in the first, probably second week, in July.
'They have found nothing – but that doesn't surprise us.
Storrie added: 'It has to be thorough. We had probably a dozen accountants and lawyers here the other day going through everything – that's how it works.
'It's a process which can take four to six weeks. I've spoken to the people at Manchester City and the process here is very similar to when they were taken over a year ago.
'When Sacha came in during January 2006 it took until the second week in February for due diligence to be completed. Nobody said anything about it then.'
Shinawatra would fail the Premier League's fit and proper persons test after being convicted of corruption in Thailand and sentenced to two years in jail.
Storrie has admitted he was introduced to Al Fahim by Pairoj Piempongsant, an associate of Shinawatra.
But both he and Shinawatra have denied the Thai has had any involvement in Pompey.
Storrie added: 'I have not seen or heard from Shinawatra since he left Manchester City.
'As for suggestions Dave Richards brokered the deal, that is absolutely crazy. He's the chairman of the Premier League and offers advice when asked.
'Dr Al Fahim is the only one I have negotiated with – what more can we as a club say?'
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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