Fixing '˜out-of-date' ground is a top priority for fans

Supporters of the club have urged Blues’ new owner Michael Eisner not to focus on splashing out cash on new players, but instead make Fratton Park fit for purpose.

And as part of their hopes, they are urging the American businessman to look at improving facilities for disabled fans, as well as making sure supporters still have a voice in future decisions.

Bob Beech, who went to his first Pompey game in 1974, said the stands at Fratton Park had remained unchanged for decades.

Mr Beech, who lives in Milton, said: ‘The ground desperately need to be improved.

‘Quite frankly, it should have been bulldozed decades ago. Fratton Park needs to be dragged into the 20th century before it can be dragged into the 21st.’

The calls come just days after disabled fans appealed for money to be spent on upgrading facilities for wheelchair users at Pompey.

Disabled fan Howard ‘Basher’ Benfield is the chairman of the Pompey Disabled Supporters’ Association.

He said Mr Eisner had been ‘sympathetic’ towards their concerns during a meeting and hoped the American could make improvements to seating arrangements and bolster the number of disabled spaces.

‘The Americans are light years ahead of us in terms of disabled accessibility,’ he said. ‘So we’d love to see Mr Eisner bring this to Pompey.’

He added: ‘The most important thing is the ground. It is old and it’s got some life left yet, but it’s not going to last forever.’