severnside gull
Well-known member
Honest Michael Appleton. Portsmouth Manager, got a nasty shock yesterday. Fed up with refusing to take his calls someone at the Football League finally spoke to him and passed on a few home truths about just why they would not allow Portsmouth to sign additional players willy-nilly.
It transpires that this was not just because they are in administration; nor was it just because they had "hidden" prospective first team squad players in the academy listings so that their wages didn't count in agreed operating costs; it wasn't even because none of this chicanery had prevented them from overspending on agreed wage limits; or buying players and then stiffing the selling club on the transfer fee because they never had the money to pay them with in the first place (hopefully the player's loan club will take over the debt once they sign him permanently); not even taking outstanding prospects from small clubs overseas and not bothering to pay the agreed progression payments so those clubs risk going broke.
No. It was because way back before the crooks took over when their fans will tell you that they were acting perfectly appropriately, they hadn't bothered to pay the likes of Wolves and Bristol City for transfers and match ticket sales. Even with the first year and a half of parachute money from the Premier League it seems they still haven't cleared these priority football debts! Well there's a surprise.
Seemingly "Honest Michael" wasn't told about these outstanding debts by his (now sacked) chief exec (and he clearly doesn't read NSC or he wouldn't have needed to be told). "Communication" says Honest Michael, "is key". Well actually Michael, no. Paying your way and not cheating are key!
It transpires that this was not just because they are in administration; nor was it just because they had "hidden" prospective first team squad players in the academy listings so that their wages didn't count in agreed operating costs; it wasn't even because none of this chicanery had prevented them from overspending on agreed wage limits; or buying players and then stiffing the selling club on the transfer fee because they never had the money to pay them with in the first place (hopefully the player's loan club will take over the debt once they sign him permanently); not even taking outstanding prospects from small clubs overseas and not bothering to pay the agreed progression payments so those clubs risk going broke.
No. It was because way back before the crooks took over when their fans will tell you that they were acting perfectly appropriately, they hadn't bothered to pay the likes of Wolves and Bristol City for transfers and match ticket sales. Even with the first year and a half of parachute money from the Premier League it seems they still haven't cleared these priority football debts! Well there's a surprise.
Seemingly "Honest Michael" wasn't told about these outstanding debts by his (now sacked) chief exec (and he clearly doesn't read NSC or he wouldn't have needed to be told). "Communication" says Honest Michael, "is key". Well actually Michael, no. Paying your way and not cheating are key!