Summer Toast - Special Issue

We were not planning an edition of Toast this week but with the first visit of Dr SAF to Fratton Park we felt we ought to tell you the inside story and catch up with any other bits of news.

Welcome to Portsmouth

Doctor Sulaimen Al-Fahim, who will now always be known as Dr SAF, stayed at a hotel in Whiteley after arriving in England and immediately set about searching for a property to suite his lifestyle. We understand he has found a suitable mansion in central Hampshire at a price we can only dream about.

He was then driven in the £65,000 BMW acquired for the occasion to Fratton Park down the M27 where he passed a banner welcoming him to Pompey. He was not impressed with the BMW but who would be with a £2million Lamborghini at home.

He was then taken on a tour of the stadium which did not hide any of the warts that the old ground possesses. He passed many piles of rubbish and rusty gates before taking a seat in the South Lower for a photo shoot. Then it was off to the offices and the shop.

He was impressed with the land owned by the club around the ground and was constantly in discussions with his German advisor and American public relations man. Once in the shop he purchased large quantities of T shirts and souvenirs for his four children - such quantities that his staff were worried whether he would get them all on the plane home.

He then met with various representatives of supporters groups some of whom were described as not too sweet smelling before again having more photos taken with young fans.

He said he hopes the period of due diligence would take no longer than another week and his two accountants are at present working their way through the clubs books.

Everyone he met was impressed by him and the fact that he seemed a very pleasant and intelligent person who knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted to achieve.

Shirt sponsor

One item Dr SAF could not take home were replica shirts as the 2008/09 shirt is only left in XXL and the new shirt is apparently ready but has a blank where the sponsor name/details will appear.

Club officials are warning that unless a decision is taken soon they will not be able to meet the July date set for their release.

Never been back

Toast can tell you with 100% certainty that the former manager rumoured to have been seen at the Park recently has never returned to the Stadium since he left.

"Why would he?" a club official responded.

Season ticket movers

Season Ticket holders are reminded that if you wish to move your seat they need to do so by visiting the club on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Remember though is you are sat next to a moaner you may find someone worse!

Birthdays

Click the name to cross to Pompeyrama for full stats on our sister site. It is another quiet week too.

8th June

Gerry Bowler was born in 1919 died 28 March 2006.

Was back up Centre Half to Reg Flewin form 1946 to 1948.

9th June

Vince Radcliffe will be 64.

Vince was one of the few youth products to play for Pompey during the 1960`s.

11th June

Sid McClellan born 1925 died 16th December 2000.

13th June

Jimmy White 67

Summer get together

Regular readers of the forums will know by now that veteran member pompeygray is travelling for Australia this month to the UK and has asked to meet up with as many of us as possible.

Well the arrangements have made and are as follows -

Location - Eastney Tavern

Date - 11th July

Time 7.30pm

Food is available with everything from burgers to a full a la carte menu!! We will have a separate area of the pub/restaurant. I will provide some posters welcoming members and try and have a few surprises laid on!!

If you want to come and we do need to know numbers then go to the forum here and add your details.

Let's all have a good evening and if you have any ideas for the evening let me know.

England triumph

Seemed strange to watch England yesterday and only have one Pompey player in the side! Not the best performance but three more points and qualification is surely now a formality.

One question I will ask is did Glen Johnson have other things on his mind during the first half? Have other players been tapping him up?

Park facelift

Meanwhile the work around Fratton Park continues. The guttering at the back of the South Stand has at last been replaced - hence to monster crane earlier in the week and the pitch has now been completely reseeded in readiness for the new season.

The work on the North Stand also moves at a pace.

See you all soon.

PUP

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