Portsmouth supporters group SOS Pompey say the financially stricken club are approaching closure and have called on the remaining players at Fratton Park to be "part of history" and save them. The club have eight senior players left on their books and their salaries are preventing a takeover of Portsmouth. Unless they leave Fratton Park or take a pay cut the club could be liquidated.
"This is the end game for Pompey, in a couple of weeks it will be over," SOS spokesman Bob Beech told BBC Solent. In June, Portpin agreed to complete its purchase of the club on condition the wage bill was reduced through player sales and compromise agreements.
But administrator Trevor Birch has so far been unable to achieve sufficient savings by this strategy alone.
SOS Pompey presented the club's senior players with a written plea at the entrance of the club's training ground on Monday in an attempt to make them compromise on their salaries. Several of those players stopped to listen to them, but others including Tal Ben Haim - who is said to be on £36,000 a week refused to acknowledge them. "Some players were excellent and stopped to listen to what we said, others as expected weren't interested and drove straight on," added Beech.
"At the end of the day, they have contracts and they expect those contracts to be paid and that is not an unreasonable stance for them to take. "But the well is dry and if they stay and keep their demands going then there will be no club and they will end up with nothing."
Beech is bitter at Pompey's ongoing crisis but still believes the players could save the club. "Trevor Birch has to save the club and people could lose their livelihoods as a result," he said. "That is scandalous because the people who put us in this mess are still clinging to the wreckage and claiming millions of pounds off the club. "But the players could still be part of history and save this club."
bIGcON 23 Jul 12 20:47 Joined: 27 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 40 | Blogger: bIGcON's blog what do you really expect from African's? they're all the same, greedy - ask Sunderlands fans, Spurs with Adebayor to name but a few
I really hope this is fishing !
On topic, those running the club in the Arry years under Mandaric/Gydamak, letting HR run loose like a kiddy in a sweetshop, to line his own and countless agents pockets, at the expense of the supporters and any sustainable future for the club, really are a disgrace.
bIGcON 23 Jul 12 20:47 Joined: 27 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 40 | Blogger: bIGcON's blogwhat do you really expect from African's? they're all the same, greedy - ask Sunderlands fans, Spurs with Adebayor to name but a fewI really hope this is fishing !O
Ben Haim said: "I've lost a lot of money, but it's not about the figures. It's over £2.5m net but I'm prepared to lose more, I'm prepared to help the club and lose more money.
"On the other hand, the administrator's fee is not less than what I earn. Nobody talks about that, so I prefer to lose more but he has to cut his fees as well.
"I can say when it went to administration we sat with the administrator, and in five to 10 minutes we had a deal.
"We agreed everything, Trevor spoke with us but then he disappeared for two months, so it's not our fault.
"He forgot that you have to negotiate with the players and not with the press. The press are not going to sign a compromise, they have to sit with us and tell us the figures exactly."
Ben Haim said: "I've lost a lot of money, but it's not about the figures. It's over £2.5m net but I'm prepared to lose more, I'm prepared to help the club and lose more money."On the other hand, the administrator's fee is not less than what I earn.