Portsmouth chief Storrie slams black hole claims
PORTSMOUTH chief executive Peter Storrie has hit out at suggestions money has gone missing from the crisis club, who are facing administration unless a buyer can be found by tomorrow.
Storrie hit out at television pundits for depicting a £150m black hole at Pompey, who are £60m in debt and facing a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs.
“If you want to know where the money has gone, look at the accounts,” said Storrie. “The vast majority of the money over the last two to three years has gone on players’ wages, and also on their transfer fees. It’s all very well for Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson to look perplexed and ask ‘where’s the £150m gone?’. In that period we bought £50m-plus of players and paid their salaries.”
Storrie spent yesterday locked in talks about a possible sale of the Premier League’s bottom club. Speculation is mounting that owner Balram Chainrai will put them into administration if a buyer cannot be found within 48 hours.
“I am heavily in discussions and have not been off the phone all day,” added Storrie. “The next couple of days could prove crucial, it’s going to be a very busy next 48 hours.”
Pompey yesterday accepted the resignation of non-executive chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim. He sold the club in October but retained a 10 per cent stake, which he has offered to the club’s supporters’ trust.