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Soul destroying...

Whilst I fully, like I have said so many times, understand and appreciate the gravity of our situation exactly what good are continuing players sales doing us?

Also I understand that player wages, and contracts on offer, are unsustainable so players have to go at some point, so the argument could well be why not sooner rather than later...

The departures, or at least likely departures, of Stephen Henderson and Hayden Mullins came ahead of the Brighton defeat.

An acceptance, at the very least a very strong seeming acceptance, that Jason Pearce and Joel Ward will be following in the week ahead seemed clear for all to see that travelled to watch Pompey...

Ward looked resigned to going, he took his shirt off and passed it to a kid in the crowd. Pearce looked devastated, close to tears as he struggled to contain his emotions with me now being 100% convinced that his reaction was confirming what 'rumours' were saying before the game, he will be off this week even if he does not want this.

A £12.5m annual wage bill just is unsustainable.

Then again is half of that, if it can be trimmed to half that, anymore sustainable for some 6-10, or so players. With a clear need for at least that amount of players again, low earners or no, to come in to give us a squad, especially as a league one club, anymore sustainable though?

Literally any player being on £10,000 of more per week - so everyone, as I suspect the lowest any 1st team members gets is that amount - realistically needs to go. Again I can appreciate that but what exactly are we achieving in the long-run if we are merely going that extra yard to just 'see us through the season?'

Loan fees, and wages saved, further boost the coffers available to fund the running of the club but what difference, or comfort, to us is it just to get through the season only to go bust in the summer?

And as it stands now this is exactly what is looking likely to happen anyway...

In Trevor Birch's defence he is legally obliged to ensure we remain 'solvent' and get the best deal possible for the creditors, so in many ways has to do what he is doing but what exactly is being left over to 'tempt' a new owner in?

Further 'rumours' have been growing at the weekend that 'a new bidder' might have entered the frame to take over Portsmouth Football Club, but what is the appeal to them, or anyone else?

Any would be owner is taking on a club with debts, including secured debts to two former owners, a squad that is being totally decimated - even if this is needed due to unsustainable and unrealistic contracts offered - that quite literally will have no 'assets' left come the summer anyway!

Those that are not released when June comes, if we make that far, that are left over for next season will only be the 'high earners' that we have been unable to shift no matter what we try to do.

What is the appeal to a would be owner?

What is the appeal to a manager as Appy will almost certainly leave in the summer I would think, and I would not blame him in the slightest. Without a doubt though he could walk away with his head held high. I am still gutted that the best think to happen to PFC in years has come at the worst time.

Soul destroying best sums up the situation...

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Writer: pompeyrug

Date:Sunday March 11 2012

Time: 10:31AM

Your Comments

How very pessimistic. Whilst I agree that it is sould destroying to see these guys go, and I desperately wish they did not have to, it is imperative that we do everything to keep us going. The longer we stay afloat, the greater the chance of a takeover despite players leaving. Without this action we would be wound up next week, but there are suggestions that one or two interested parties are out the. Would you rather close the club before they have hada. Chance to make a bid based upon genuine understanding of our situation? The reality is, that even with a decimated squad, and league 1 football if it. Ones to that, we have a great deal to offer. A place I the football league, a sale which would include clearance of all long term debentures, leaving ten purchase debt free, and a fan base which can be mobilised. We were in the fourth division, with some of the worst players I have seen in any football team at one time, yet made it to the premier league eventually. Of course the future is going to be hard, but we are used to that, and with us pulling together and not just whingeing, we can see our way through this, God willing. PUP

wakey

Sorry for posting twice

wakey

as it stands we look like we are going to have about 6-10 players left at the end of the season and it would appear that most of these will be the higher end scale of wage earners - TBH, lawrence - if he returns, kitson, huseklepp etc. and this will set us back some £6m per year i would think, £6m as a league one club would be tough, considering other players would be needed too...

the reality is, like i say, that literally every player needs to go really as £10,000 or more per week just isnt sustainable for PFC, even as a championship side is it?
as much as i want us to live on what have we got that can appeal to a new owner given the millions that is owed to former owners alone?
what owners is going to GIVE, as give is what they would have to, us at least £50-£100m to clear the debt and get an infrastructure in place that is needed for us to have a sustainable long-term future?
having a tough time is not something i cannot deal with, just having a tough time without any light at the end of the tunnel regardless is tho and its seeming that this is the case?

if every player went a new squad, maybe we could use the academy lads to be the 1st team squad next season - they would get mullered tho and their confidence dented beyond repaid - that would be cheap to run but how long before more and more fans decided not to go because we continued losing each week?
the one constant is that until chainrai and gaydamek are completely gone this club has no chance...

pompeyrug

This is the worst thing I've read on here in ages. stop the doom and gloom. we all know the situation and understand the need. you don't know if Appleton would walk? He may see league 1 and a possible promotion campaign as a positive thing for his career. we don't need negative on top of negative. we need positive optimistic attitudes to keep the fans packing the park. sorry burgers up of reading poor me stories. onwards and upwards. play up pompey.

Midge

sorry to both wakey and you Midge for more 'doom and gloom' and not being 'positive enough' but as much as i want to be optimistic how can you if you find it hard to see what optimism there is to have?

i want to believe that there is a way out, and quite possibly someone will take over, but what have we got to offer an owner?
please do tell me, and share with me - via an article suggestion ideally that i will publish - the positive side of things at the moment?

i am not being funny to you but genuinely would like to publish something positive but its hard to be positive when you cannot see anything but negative but like i say tell me the positives and i will share.

pompeyrug

Rug I am glad you're saying these things as I think they have to be said. Supporters should not be burying their heads in the sand and be realistic as to what the worst case scenarios could possibly be. I do not think the club will go out of business however I do think that we will be relegated. I hope to be the first to renew my season ticket because without my support how will my club repair itself and fight back to the top flight? However on a more cynical note, the administrators at Rangers have negotiated 75% wage cuts for the highest earners so as to keep the structure of the club together, why has this not been done at pompey? If i were playing, I would prefer to see the club survive and be proud that I was part of that if I took a substantial wage reduction. Instead the squad is being systematically de-constructed and broken up. I though TB was an ex footballer? Surely he should understand this?

MadPhill

Wakey and Midge, if you can see some positives, RIGHT THEM, go on, do an article about a bright and breezy future, I can't see one for a while, please enlighten me and the others, do an article send it to Rug and get it published, its a site that is open to anyone

paultsmouth

I agree with Rug if Pearce and Ward follow Henderson as expected we will definately will be in league 1 next year if we survive, these players were our future they are not high wage earners, I understand TB has a job to do but tearing the heart out of the club will achieve nothing, if we do survive next year it will be like returning to the Ian st John era playing kids with loans and jouneymen footballers resulting in relegation again to league 2 and the best bit is we are selling our soul to achieve this, I'm not sure if starting again has more appeal.

nobby1954

a couple of weeks ago i posted an article called "winds of change"..i recieved some jovial comments about "always look on the bright side" etc. Well, here goes.. I am fed up with the players leaving, just as i was when the Distans and defoe's went, i was more depressed when the Begovic and Wilson deals went because these were young guys who we thought could build a future. I will just as, if not more sad that Hendo has gone and if Pearce and Ward go, for the same reason. However just as these three replaced previous "heroes" they will be replaced with other young players, especially if we keep Apples..If these departures save Pompey inthe short term, keep ordinary folks in work, then so be it. They would go at some point, either if we are relagated, or liquidated. As a romantic, i like the Plan B concept, if we are in the conferance or higher, but a better option would be if a buyer comes in. I wrote the optimistic article because i think our luck is changing, and that may mean going back a bit to come forward, and that will mean shedding some off the wage. If we go down TBH will go, as will Kanu and benji. WE could rebuild under MA, its been done before. Yesterday the rumours started of the Goldhars interest, a man who builds and owns shopping complexes. Pompey are sat amidst a massive plot of land that could be developed, and i am sure that that is his interest rather thn directly beingt PFC. He has links to Isreali football and Pini Zahavi-so must have links of some sort to Gaydamak, Chinny must reduce his £17m charge, and has said that he will. although i have reservations about any one with a "link" to these guys, i do believe that this could be a real goer. I think the councill would look faviouably on any one who "saves" the club. I could foresee the guy dealing easily with SG and the council and redevloping FP along with a large commercial complex, and some sensible sustainable refinancing of the club. If we stay up and keep the wolf pack and some new young guns with MA in charge, the future could be brighter than we see at the moment. Maybe this is all part of the wind of change that are blowing along the south coast..

plymouth graham

Aren't these players going out on loan to reduce the wage bill? By the end of the season we'll have a new owner, the loans-out will return and we'll top div.1 one next season with a full-hose following at FP. OK Paul?

PFCblue

"full-house" even...

PFCblue

Thanks all, for the invitation to write an article of positive messages, but to be honest, I do not have the time or know enough of the positives to do that. I was not saying the future is shiny, as you will see if you read my comments again, but refusing to recognise the dire position we are in, and to harp on with the nonsense that says we would rath go out in a blaze of glory,mrathbthan struggle doesn't do it either. Who knows what the truth is, but Trevor Birch states that any takeover will see Chainrai and Gaydamac removed from the equation, and that the purchase price would reflect taking the club over with no debt. Will anyone buy at whatever the cost of that might be - I do not know, nor do you, will a buyer come within the next week - absolutely not, as it takes longer than that to do the job properly, and we have had enough false starts. Some choice is, prostitute ourselves by letting our talent go out on loan, pay the bills and allow people time to consider whether they wish to take over the club, and whether we are worth it, or plan b) refuse to sell, see one more game, maybe two and run out ofmcash, be liquidated, see scum promoted, and have no club. Oh, and as fmthe Phoenix idea, do not delude yourselves, that would be even tougher than the current loss of players. We would be starting with no club, no players, and no true history, so while it is true that you can climb the leagues it will certainly not be better than taking every step to save the club in it's current format. How many members in PST at the moment? How may fans do you genuinely think will turn up to every home game in the non leagues? Save us at all costs and leave the Phoenix idea as a backup of all else fals.

wakey

Oh god, spelling errors are awful, I really should learn to spell check before hitting submit - sorry

wakey

For the record, I'm not having a pop at you wakey, just finding it hard to find many positives myself, if we flog everyone and drop to league 1 and start afresh so be it, if we do that and STILL owe millions, I can't see any positives whatsoever

paultsmouth

I went to Brighton yesterday and thought that the lads played really well and but for some appauling reffing we would have come out with at least a point, the background situation is slowly ripping the heart out of the team and supporters. How much more can we all take of this I do not know, but come what may I will still be sitting in the fratton end next season if we still have a club to support.

khodgkins

Unfortunately PFCBlue most of the loans are going with a view to buy come the end of the season!

khodgkins

We all realised that we would have to do a little pruning, but Birch told us we had enough money to see us to the end of the season and has urged fans to PACK THE PARK. Now call me a bluff old traditionalist but I thought that if we packed the park as requested, this would extend our life still longer into the close season. Also we were trying to get behind our lads in attempt to beat the drop When we pack the fecking park Mr Birch, should we fetch our boots as well?

Emsworthianblue

I'm so glad I don't understand the football as you all do. I love to go on a Saturday, sing, shout and laugh at all that is going on around me. High fives all round with Tracey and Glen when we score and jumping up and down when we are singing. (beats the Gym, after all). All the time the team and Appie are trying, then I will be there for them. Its only soul destroying for a fleeting momen., If we go down to the next league, then so what? We still have a team and while we have a team and club we have hopes and dreams. Come on, you miserable buggers, cheer up.

gandor1

trust me Gandor league one, league two or non-league does not bother me - just think of the new grounds, great adventures and CHEAP days out we could have!
my worries are that the lower we slide the harder it is to even have a future, which lets forget if we are not taken over by the end of the season we will not have anyway...

pompeyrug

Rug, you're obviously too young to remember our previous problems and slide to the (old) 4th div. A lot of us didn't give up and we eventually reached the glory days of the PL and winning the cup. History can repeat itself - a good owner and sensible financing permitting.

PFCblue

indeed i am blue, remember us LONG before the premier league glory days etc. tho...
difference between now and then tho blue is the sheer scale of our debt and the amount of 'former owners' that we owe money to and that have a slice of the pie preventing any rebuilding process!

pompeyrug

Rug is right about the scale of debt, it even put off the only PFC fans with enough access to dough needed to run a club(Brian and Vince) well vince, BH doesn't have the dosh i am sure. Rumours will abound like the Goldhar and the latest Egyptian based consortium..in the end i fear it will be have to Plan B, my heart says we are just about coming to the end of this Horror film, and i am often led by my gut feelings in these things

plymouth graham

PFCblue, totally agreee with you!!Rug I first went to Fratton Park in 1954, and have been going ever since. I have stood at the Milton end in the *****ing rain when we were in Div.4 playing teams like Hartlepool, Bury & Crewe etc. & I have travelled right across the country to see PFC playing in some godforsaken places. Some of the best days of my life have been supporting Pompey, and despite whatever happens, I will continue to do so. It really grates with me whats happening now. However, I would hate to think if anyone who might be interested in buying PFC read this stuff on here today, they might think we have given up. The potential at PFC is enormous in the right hands, so far we haven't had that, only short term glimpse's of what is achievable An astute new owner will see through what has happened here over the last few years. Good businessmen will manage through a couple of difficult years whilst they build the foundations for a strong business. What they will know from day one is that the fan base is solid gold, and that will inspire them. They will even convince Appy to stay if they have a solid plan. The future is bright, the future is BLUE.

Mike1954

surely we are at risk of a charge of intentionally fielding a weakened team. all our best players are going and being replaced by players not deemed good enough to play for their own !teams! any team that lost points to us before the exodus must surely have grounds to complain. though i have to say for me the most important thing is that Pompey survives whatever division that will be in. I'll keep hoping but i can't see anyway we can stay up now. Appleton talks of needing a mendes moment but we had quality players to call on then.

Steve C

Mike1954, like i said to blue i have NO problem with playing in league one, league two or non-league - going down does not worry me support wise, it does financially tho...if we think its tough now it will be even tougher in league one. i still find it hard to see how any 'good businessman' is going to write-off as much money as they will need to to take us on? but of course hope that they come!

again i apologise if you think i am being 'negative' or 'given up' but i think of it more as realism...

pompeyrug

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