Finally they live up to their name!

At least they have done the decent thing now, though I fear it may have cost them more in the long run!

I don't agree with everybody on this and actually think BETFAIR are (were) correct not to pay out... The bet was 'Who will be the next Pompey Manager' and he has yet to be named. Paul Hart has been appointed to caretake the club until the end of the season .. In my book that doesn't mean he has been given the job. Also although they are now paying out, the other bookmakers have not cancelled bets taken on people other than Paul Hart .. Which demonstrates that they have paid out .. not because Pompey have filled the position but as a goodwill guesture .. I'm sorry chaps betfair are (were) right not to pay out on this one

Well all I know is that my old man told me you never see a bookie on a bike. Perhaps Betfair bookies will have to get their clips on now.

disagree Chix, we all know that hart was caretaker manager, but pompey announced that he is now the manager until the end of the season, then this will be 'reviewed' - for me that makes him manager...
by only being until the summer, if that is a caretaker role then guus hiddink at chelski and russell slade at brighton, who are both in jobs until the end of the season, are only 'caretakers' too... hiddink of course to a large degree is tho.

... So if that's right why do I still hold a 'Valid' bet that Sven will be our next manager .. although (in this instance) Labrookes (and others) have paid out they haven't cancelled the other bets.. To me, you either pay-out and cancel all other bets .. or don't .. the majority of bookies played safe and done both .. Betfair (right or wrong) where the only firm to play by the rules and they got slated for it .. A bet is a bet.. It seems other bookies do whatever keeps the punter happy thesedays. As for Hart being a caretaker .. That's exactley what him and Hiddink are.. neither have been announced as 'permanent' managers.. and both will be replaced come May?June

time will tell chixy, time will tell...

The thing to remember here,is that Betfair as a company is a betting exchange,and not a bookmaker. What this means is that they do not care one bit who wins what,as all bets placed using their facility are technically between customers having a view on a given event. How they make their money is to keep a percentage (normally 5%) of all winning bets. So regardless of whatever the result is,they collect. I actually believe that in this instance they were probably acting in the interests of trying to be fair to their clients. I am not anything to do with Betfair,but thought it was worth mentioning,cos not everyone appreciates how a betting exchange works,as opposed to traditional bookmakers,where the amount of winning bets can have an adverse effect to them.

HART IS GIVEN THE JOB TO PUMP UP POMPEY...I don't think it hurts the bookies to pay out regardless of Manager or Temp Manager. Methinks Chix could be right but he is holding a ticket on Sven so he must be biased ? Either way I accept the verdict. Thank you my Lord.

read the bloody rules - it clearly states 'caretaker manager does not count for this market' - so until there was a definitive 'Paul Hart is our permanent manager' statement from Pompey, what else could they do? Bookies can do PR stunts (eg Paddy Power already paying out on Man U winning three trophies) and if it goes wrong it's actually better for them - publicity far greater than the cost. Betfair is an exchange. If you lost by betting against Hart, then you are the one paying out. People who bet and can't be arsed reading the rules are always the ones that moan the loudest!

"I don't think it hurts the bookies to pay out regardless of Manager or Temp Manager." - of course it does, how about the blokes who backed the permanent manager only to lose because some guy got the job for two wks?? It's a one winner race, and until that race is OFFICIALLY over, then it can't be paid out. Kevin Keegan had walked out on Newcastle early in the season, everyone lumped on him being next to leave... turns out, he just had a hissy fit and didn't officially leave for three days. In the meantime Curbishley left West Ham. Information has to be official, not hearsay...

i did not bet on this, so in all honesty i could not really give one - but others have... that said zaka this is from the official pompey site, which surely cannot be any more 'official' - is there any mention of hart staying on as manager in a 'caretaker manager' capacity? it says hart will stay as manager until the end of the season, for me that means 'manager' not caretaker, even if that is what he is in all reality...


HART & KIDD STAY ON
Paul Hart has been named Pompey manager until the end of the season with Brian Kidd staying as assistant manager/first-team coach.
Alexandre Gaydamak and Peter Storrie made the decision in a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
The Blues owner and the club's executive chairman have been impressed by how the duo have improved Pompey's Premier League form.
In the pair's first game in caretaker charge on February 14, Pompey beat Manchester City 2-0 at Fratton Park – their first Premier League victory since November 30.
Storrie said: “Sacha and I have been delighted with how the team have fared under Paul and Brian's control.
“They both have so much experience in the game and they have the respect of the players.
“We will review the managerial situation again at the end of the season.”

I would have thought that managing until the summer is as good a horizon as any manager will be likely to see. How many of them have been given long term contracts only to be out of the door in a couple of months... It's a veritable lifetime...

ummm very interesting points here .. but I'll still collect when Sven comes..