Nine-point Premier League penalty catches up with Portsmouth
Portsmouth docked nine points by Premier League after club went into administration last month
Wednesday, 17, Mar 2010 04:42
By Matthew Champion.
Relegation to the Championship moved nine points closer for Portsmouth today after the club incurred a penalty from the Premier League for going into administration.
Pompey entered administration in February in a bid to avoid liquidation, but the move was only officially accepted by HM Revenue and Customs this week.
"Following the high court's decision that Portsmouth FC's administration is valid the Premier League board convened today to apply the league's rules and policies in relation to a member club suffering an event of insolvency," a statement from the Premier League said.
"As a result Portsmouth FC has been deducted nine points with immediate effect.
"As part of this process the board met with the administrator to agree how we will work together for the remainder of the season to ensure that the club is able fulfil its commitments."
The deduction leaves Avram Grant's side with ten points from 29 games, 17 points adrift of safety with nine league games to go.
The club's administrator Andrew Andronikou has revealed Pompey have debts of around £60 million but that around five parties are interested in a potential takeover.
Andronikou met with the Premier League board on Wednesday to discuss how the rest of the season would proceed for Portsmouth, with the south coast club now likely to fulfil the remainder of their fixture obligations before eventual relegation.