Portsmouth owner adds to club's torment
New Portsmouth owner Sulaiman al-Fahim admitted to hospital in Dubai with kidney stones
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Friday, 02, Oct 2009 04:27
By Michael Younger.
Portsmouth's new owner Sulaiman al-Fahim has been admitted to hospital in Dubai suffering from kidney stones.
The 32-year-old property tycoon, finally seized control of the Fratton Park club after a protracted takeover saga in the summer, was taken into hospital late on Thursday night, adding to the south-coast club's dismal start to the season.
Al-Fahim has pledged to refinance the troubled club with £50million of investment in the next few weeks and his spokesman, Ivo Gabara said: "This will not have any impact on the refinancing or management of Portsmouth."
The club were forced to confirm on Thursday that their first-team squad and board members had not been paid September's wages, although they insist the matter will be resolved in the next 24 hours.
The Premier League is understood to be monitoring the situation and looking to see if Pompey fulfil the financial criteria set out to its clubs, while the Professional Footballers' Association will deal with any contractual issues if players are not paid.
A statement from Pompey's executive board, read: "It is very disappointing to all of us that the players have for the first time had to wait for their contractual remuneration for reasons entirely outside the club's control.
"It is through the joint efforts of the executive directors that we are in the final stages of securing funding that will allow the club to meet these contractual obligations.
"It is clear that in order to ensure that the club is able to secure its longer-term future, a more permanent financing solution needs to be found quickly as the executive directors consider it an obligation to the club's loyal employees and fans, who undoubtedly feel equally disappointed.