Portsmouth future in the npower League One for the new season isn’t looking too rosy after the Football League took ten points away from them. The club has been facing administration since last February, and they still do not have an owner to represent them. While the team will be allowed to continue to play with the League, they will have to accept a long list of conditions which include more points being deducted from them.
Last season the team was also docked ten points for entering administration a second time which is effectively what kept Portsmouth out of the Championship. The news of the points deduction is another tough blow for Michael Appleton, the Portsmouth manager, as he kicked off his pre-season training this Monday with eight senior players.
It is likely that the majority of these eight will not remain at the club by the time the season actually gets started next month. Hayden Mullins, for example, has already signed up with Birmingham while Luke Varney and David Norris are expected to be sold off to other teams in the next few days. Kanu and Aaron Mokoena are also said to be leaving.
According to rules set by the Football League, whoever purchases the Portsmouth club must agree that only a small portion of the secured debt from the previous club can be used as secured debt under the new company. All creditors must be paid off in full as well unless mutually agreed upon arrangements are put in place.
Pompey is also going to have to deal with a range of restrictions placed on budgets, loan repayments, and future borrowing that will last for at least the next five seasons before the Football League will allow the Pompey Supporters’ Trust to take over the club.