English football this season has been dominated by stories of financial woe (Chester City, Forest Green Rovers, Notts County, AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and probably any other club that are choosing to keep things schtum for now!)
But the most high profile club to suffer is Portsmouth. Regardless of circumstances they're in dire trouble; debts of upto £80million which is sure to increase should they be relegated, the unwanted fact they are the first Premier League side to enter administration...and a very low club morale.
Yet despite this, a 9-point penalty for entering administration may yet be avoided because of the nature of the admittance (it was in all fairness, voluntarily compared to every other club doing it with great reluctance)...and they're in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, guaranteed at least another £500,000 in winnings which would climb into seven figures should they beat Tottenham or Fulham and make it to the Final...and while the points are still unaffected they still are only a few points from safety in the Premier League.
As long as the points aren't deducted, Pompey are far from dead. But what do you think will happen? Most people believe relegation is the best direction...that may be so, but Premier League survival would see the revenue still higher than that of a Championship club, with or without parachute payments.
Discuss