Premier League - Paper round: Pompey pay freeze

Eurosport - Thu, 01 Oct 09:04:00 2009

Portsmouth players have been left incensed after their salaries were not paid.

FOOTBALL 2009-10 Premier League Portsmouth players celebrate goal - 0

The Daily Mail reports that several of Pompey's playing staff - who are usually paid on the last working day of every month - did not receive their pay packets for September.

Some players were paid along with club staff, and the club insist that it is nothing more than a 'payroll' issue and they will receive their money today.

However, that hasn't stopped some players - including new signings - contacting their agents in a bid to jump ship from the beleaguered club which has lost all seven of its Premier League games so far this season.

The Sun adds to the story by claiming that manager Paul Hart is angry with new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim for being left to face the player's complaints on his own. Al Fahim had recently promised to inject £50 million into the club.

While Pompey's owner is struggling to raise funds, One of Arsenal 's billionaire shareholders is edging closer to launching a full takeover bid for the club.

American Stan Kroenke, who owns the Denver Nuggets NBA team, has increased his stake in the club to 28.7 per cent. He needs a 29.9 per cent share to make a formal offer to the rest of the shareholders.

The Times reports that Kroenke spent £680,000 on 80 shares, paying around £1,000 over the market price for each share, a real show of intent from the Missouri entrepreneur.

Speaking of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger today becomes the club's longest-serving manager on the day he begins his 13th year in charge.

The Daily Telegraph carries a double-page spread on the Gunners boss with quotes of tribute, a timeline of his tenure in north London, a comparison with the man he has overtaken, George Allison, and a call for him to finally win the European Cup from writer Kevin Garside.

Arsenal fans may dislike former striker Emmanuel Adebayor as much as they revere Wenger, and the Togolese striker will launch his defence against an FA charge of improper conduct for his celebration in front of Gunners fans when he scored against them for Manchester City last month.

Adebayor has just finished serving a three-match ban for raking his studs on the face of former team-mate Robin van Persie, and hopes to escape an additional one-game suspension when he goes before a disciplinary panel this afternoon.

The Daily Mirror is stoking things up regarding Luca Toni's potential move to West Ham.

The Bayern Munich striker is refusing to play for the reserves as he continues his recovery from an achilles injury, and is yet to feature in the Bundesliga this season.

Toni said: "The trainer told me I should play for the reserves and play 90 minutes. I don't think it's a good idea."

The Italy international is up against Miroslav Klose, Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez for a starting spot in the Bayern attack, and may be tempted to join compatriot Gianfranco Zola at Upton Park.

Finally, there are harsh words form the Daily Mail's Matt Barlow as he questions why England have taken such a weak squad to the U20 World Cup in Egypt, revealing that the last Englishman to score for the Three Lions in the age group's finals was Jamie Carragher , 12 years ago.

Eurosport

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. 25 piss off and annoy somebody else with your scam

    From John W, on Thu 1 Oct 2:01PM

  2. 25 piss off and annoy somebody else with you scam

    From John W, on Thu 1 Oct 2:01PM

  3. Terminal breach of contract all staff are therefore­ free agents and may walk away plus they may seek­ compensation via court action

    From John W, on Thu 1 Oct 1:59PM

  4. I told you months ago about the good doctor I told you­ it would all end up in tears
    Why do you think ManCity­ got rid of him.. he is a walter mitty
    Feel very sorry­ for the Pompey­ fans.................................City till I die­ and beyond

    From RAYMOND P, on Thu 1 Oct 1:34PM

  5. As a long suffering saints fan im sooooooooooo sad to­ hear about the skates.
    problems ha h mick

    From cabbyman15, on Thu 1 Oct 1:12PM

  6. I was really impressed by what Redknapp did with the­ team, he was working on very little money but appeared­ to be doing so successfully & with longevity,­ who'd have seen this coming 2 years ago? A very sad­ time for the club, hopefully you'll pull it back­ over the course of the season.

    From not_blonde_really, on Thu 1 Oct 1:01PM

  7. As a long suffering saints fan im sooooooooooo sad to­ hear about the skates.
    problems ha h mick

    From cabbyman15, on Thu 1 Oct 1:01PM

  8. slaiman fahim and mike ashley seem to have a lot in­ common.. looks and they way they wear their club t­ shitrs n caps etc.. all show no substance.. pompey fans­ brace yourselves!!

    From sabr32, on Thu 1 Oct 12:52PM

  9. music to me ears, picked pompey to finish bottom of the­ prem at 25-1 with the hope that they'd go into­ administration.

    From rex_davies, on Thu 1 Oct 12:40PM

  10. How can you get the arab out when he owns the club I­ am not sure ? I do not understand what is his plan, why­ did he buy the club if he didn't have the money ?­ He's clearly struggling but English (or Spanish)­ clubs should not be allowed to get into debt like this.­ Either there's no rules or no one inforce them.­ Fifa needs to step in otherwise a lot of english club­ face ruin when those, presumed, magnates pull out­ leaving an unfillable hole in the club finances.

    From Morituri, on Thu 1 Oct 12:35PM

  11. Ive got a spare £Fiver if that will help ?

    From Neil, on Thu 1 Oct 12:20PM

  12. chris79....money talk, bull s..t walk. These clubs ran­ themselves into this bad financial state all by­ themselves. Don't look outside for the problems of­ these clubs, all they need to do is look in the­ mirror.
    Beggars can't be choosers!!

    From Kingsley, on Thu 1 Oct 12:16PM

  13. I don't understand the Pompey situation either,­ they've sold almost anyone of value in the past 3­ years but are still broke. Next up David James.

    From G, on Thu 1 Oct 12:15PM

  14. They should think themselves lucky i had to wait for 3­ months for my wages form portsmouth city council. wehn­ they missed the payroll run becasue of an­ adminastrative cockup they asked me to pay £50 so they­ could pay my wages by cheque

    From steve, on Thu 1 Oct 12:05PM

  15. How on earth can a clubs finances be allowed to get­ that bad.....Muntari 12m...Krankjaer 3m...Distin­ 5m...Defoe 15m...crouch 9m....johnson 18m...Diarra 22m­ =84m and still not financially viable....Redknapp,­ Storrie and Gaydamak should be held accountable.

    From resentdtox, on Thu 1 Oct 12:00PM

  16. yeah luca toni, never has a player carried so much hype­ and goes missing in the big ones!

    From sanchez.santos, on Thu 1 Oct 11:52AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ray....who's your team eh?
    oh man u maybe or­ some other "big" team
    porstmouth are a big­ part of english football history
    and deserve as much as­ anyone to be successful.
    there is no divine right for­ anyone.
    i hope your team go bust .....but then you­ wont be supporting them will you...

    From geordieprince1, on Thu 1 Oct 11:34AM

  18. This is a good reason to keep your club run by a few­ shareholders like Arsenal Are and not ENCOURAGE Kronke­ or Ustimov to make any take over in their own right.
    No­ wonder Rednapp jumped he must have seen this comming

    From Alex F, on Thu 1 Oct 11:24AM

  19. LESSON LEARNT,NEVER DEAL WITH AN ARABIAN­ CONSORTIUM!!!...& LIVERPOOL IS ABOUT TO STEP ONTO­ UNCHANTERED WATERS!!!........THE DARK SIGN IS LOOMING­ NEAR....

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Thu 1 Oct 11:13AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Emmanuel Adebayor eats boiled mice

    From Captain Kirk, on Thu 1 Oct 10:18AM
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