Pompey

[jucyberry]

At the end of the day, it's the same as every other aspect of life, the greedy immoral few destroy it for the masses.  It's a sad fact of life that greed and a lack of morals go hand in glove..

[RobTheRover]

Rigoglioso wrote:

RobTheRover wrote:

I cant believe the views of those revelling in Portsmouth's demise.  What about \"Fans United\", what of the spirit of defiance we shared with Brighton fans in 96/7?  Football clubs are the centre of many people's worlds, an escape from the drudgery of real life for a couple of hours.

I wouldn't class myself as being happy with Portsmouth demise, Rob, but if they go bust it'll be a blessing in disguise and could potentially be one of the best things to happen in football for a while. Some clubs will be hit by the fear factor of \"doing a Pompey\" and will at least try and get their house in order. If at least two clubs do that and start operating within their means, there's positives to come out of the situation.

For Pompey's fans, the current club going into liquidation will also unite all of them more than ever before. Furthermore, it will give all their fans a chance to finally rid themselves of the past and begin a fresh. Undoubtedly they will have to drop down the leagues (probably into the darkest depths of the non-league scene), but I don't think I'd be alone in saying some Pompey fans would prefer that to happen, rather than the tumultuous situation continuing with the current club.

What you describe there in your backpedalling, Rigo, is very much last chance saloon.  For a new club to be formed from the ashes of the old one is the last resort.  The vast majority of Pompey fans would want the EXISTING club run properly, and this endless stream of crooks and chancers they end up with as chairmen stopping being allowed to perpetuate.

[Mr Brightside]

Rigoglioso wrote:

Personally, I hope they go bust and it happens sooner rather than later. If it does, then I'll have some sympathy for their fans (albeit not that much), but the bottom line is that a precedent needs to be set that will send shockwaves throughout football. The death of Pompey will do that and hopefully it will send a message to other clubs that they need to get their house in order.

The longer this saga continues, football clubs in general will still believe they can operate in their own little world.

Good riddance Pompey!  

I wouldn't class myself as being happy with Portsmouth demise, Rob

So which is it to be?

I find it unbeleivable that fans of a football club that have been through what we have and almost lost their club, would want another club to fold.

I'm absolutley gobsmacked.

[RobTheRover]

Hear hear!

Not the same circumstances, but just as real a threat.  I remember how I felt after the Colchester game in 1997, clambering over the safety fencing at the Town End to stand on the same spot my Dad and I first stood together in 1980, tears rolling down my cheeks.  I wouldnt even want Rotherham fans to feel that bad.

[DearneValleyRover]

It appears a deal has been done and Portsmouth will be saved what a surprise, not!

I didn't believe for one minute that it would happen it's all posturing, media hype and another indictment of the lack of morality in football.

[MartinB]

No going back from me I'm afraid, Pompey should sort em'selves out or go bust.  I for one would not give a sh*t to see a club that has overspent so much going bust.  Just as I don't want the Rovers to overspend right now, if we can stay in the Championship, great. If we could make it into the glitz of the PL even better, but for me I would rather see us buy our own stadium, balance the books, get a decent youth set up and be a well run club.  Teams will always be promoted & relegated that's the game. I would love to see what all players across the leagues are getting paid each week.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

The guy even said 'why not use the media to create panic and get things done?'.  Did anyone seriously think any different?

[Standanista]

Whether the current \"legal entity\" of Portsmouth FC survives, without a doubt there will still be a Portsmouth playing at some level next season.  It might be in the form of an AFC Wimbledon in a south coast equivalent of the Combined Counties League, but given Pompey's fan base, the phoenix will no doubt rise from the ashes.

I don't buy the argument that \"it will take a big club like Portsmouth to go to the wall to make the FA wake up\" etc.  I don't think they're seen as a big club any more, definitely not by Premiership standards.  I doubt Pompey's demise would cause more than a passing ripple across the turbid waters of English football's current administrative and financial set up.

While having some sympathy with the \"fark 'em\" opinions on here, my gut feel is that Bob probably has it about right: them this week, us potentially next.  Only if it were the \"don't shake your bucket here\" crowd down the A630 at Don Valley Stadium in similar strife, might I take a different and less charitable position.

[Dr Fundlekrotch]

RobTheRover wrote:

Hear hear!

Not the same circumstances, but just as real a threat.  I remember how I felt after the Colchester game in 1997, clambering over the safety fencing at the Town End to stand on the same spot my Dad and I first stood together in 1980, tears rolling down my cheeks.  I wouldnt even want Rotherham fans to feel that bad.

The circumstances weren't so different. Many of us thought we'd seen our last game at Belle Vue, full stop. A lot look back and see it as just the sadness of relegation but at the time it was expected to be the end of Rovers.

[Barmby Rover]

Just as I thought then, like Rooney money people using the media as a lever to squeeze an agreement to pay very little back of the money they have filched from somebody,so they can sell their ill gotten gains for a few sheckles more to the next speculator/ dicatator/ oligarch/ porn merchant who fancies having a football club to play with. No doubt the FA and Football League will as ususal turn the blind eye to the dodgy business going on so long as they get their freebies and their nice blazers to pose about in. As a sport football is brilliant, simple, easy to play, inclusive because you need the minimal of equipment. As a business it is the most stinking rotten and corrupt activity still allowed,the lack of control over the financial shenanigans that go on is unbelieveable, with only the banks able to challenge them as being more morally bankrupt.