Pompey Get Two In

Steve Finnan

Portsmouth have announced yes announced the signing of two players, Steve Finnan and Aaron Mokoena

Finnan says he is "delighted to be back playing in the Premier League following a disappointing spell in Spain" I hope it is not the same for him at Pompey ;-)

Whilst Mokoena says "a meeting with Paul Hart convinced him to sign for Pompey" did he borrow Rednapp's dogs?

Aaron Mokoena

Sir Bobby Robson

It's a sad day for his family and for football as one of the gentlemen of football passes on R.I.P.

Sir Bobby Robson 1933-2009

FreeDUMB of speech.

I believe in freedom of speech, even if I don't agree with what is said I think it is healthy to debate ideas and thoughts, but the things that have been said in the internet in the last few days are just dumb realy dumb I think the average age on the message boards must be about 10. It take me ages to sift through all the rubbish to get some idea what's going on! it gives me a headache, I for one can' wait for this event at Pompey to be sorted out! Rant Over.

So Pompey still have no new players in yet! I don't think we will see anyone until the deal is done ( I hope), but now with Crouch gone we are lighter than a top model with even less up front! Everything seems to me be on hold until it happens, so more waiting.

The last two games for Pompey in pre season could not of been more different a poor 0-0 at Basingstoke that was a little bit like the Havant game part two, but a 6-1 win with Eastleigh with a hatrick from Nugent was a bit more like it, but as I say pre season is about fitness not results, but people do like a win.

So that's it for now ....... back to the waiting game!

Pompeygary

New Shirt Sponsor

So things are moving fast at Pompey as a new sponsor is announced and it's Jobsite, I don't care who it is but I knoe we are going to get a bit of stick from oter fans for this one!


From The Official Site

Jobsite are Pompey’s new main club sponsor after signing a three-year contract with the club.

The deal with the industry-leading online recruitment site will see the Jobsite logo appear on all first-team shirts, training wear and replica kit.

The news comes in an exciting week for Portsmouth Football Club with the arrival of Sulaiman Al Fahim as chairman and Paul Hart’s appointment as manager.

As part of the agreement to become the club’s main sponsors the Fratton end will now be known as the Jobsite Stand.

Jobsite chief executive officer Keith Potts said: “Portsmouth Football Club is closely aligned with our brand values; they’re a down-to-earth, straight-talking, hard-working club who are renowned as having some of the best fans in football.

“They’re also our local club and we’re extremely proud that they’re in the Premier League. We’re excited to be their shirt sponsor and to be supporting them as the new season starts.”

Pompey chief executive officer Peter Storrie said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jobsite as our new main club sponsor. This represents the biggest sponsorship deal in the club’s history.

“We have been impressed by Jobsite’s attitude and approach to supporting the club and believe that they will be a great partner.

“Jobsite are joining at an exciting time for the club and we look forward to building a close working relationship with them.”

Pompey commercial director Paul Bell said: “From the initial conversation with Jobsite it was clear that they were serious about extending their brand awareness campaign into new ground to reach more consumers.

“Becoming the main sponsor at Portsmouth Football Club will help them to reach significant audiences both in the UK and worldwide.

“Innovative marketing activity has seen Jobsite become a leader within the recruitment sector and we are excited about working with them over the next three seasons to help deliver their brand and business objectives.

“We are a progressive football club and strive to work with like-minded, forward-thinking brands. With Jobsite we have found a fantastic partner.”

The deal confirms the commitment of the Havant-based company to becoming the UK’s best-known online recruitment brand and demonstrates the importance they place on finding new and different ways to reach consumers.

It marks the start of a new phase of brand activity for Jobsite, building on the huge success of their TV advertising campaign starring Max Beesley last year - the biggest ever by a UK job board.

Jobsite was launched as the UK’s first commercial multi-sector online recruitment site in 1995 and has continued to go from strength to strength to become one of the UK’s leading job boards, posting thousands of new jobs every day.

Nearly a million CVs are currently posted on the site for employers to search.

The new kit featuring the Jobsite logo will be worn for the first time by Pompey for their friendly at Basingstoke on Saturday.

Launch dates for the new replica kit will be announced in due course.

Hawks 2-2 Pompey

The lovely Westleigh Park was the setting for Pompey's first pre-season of another new era. As this was a pre-season game the result does not matter, it's fitness that matters, we could win 6 nil and it would not mean at thing, so for people to criticise Pompey for a 2-2 draw is wrong, we did lose to the Hawks a few seasons back in pre-season some people have a short memory.

Waiting Outside For The Players

It was raining hard as I arrived at the car park, once it dropped of I took the short! walk to Havant train station to pick Mum up. On our return to Westleigh Park we waited outside to see what players would arrive, with Distin, Nicko,Primus and Nugent getting out of there cars to sign autographs and have pictures taken with the kids and fans it looked like a strong team was about to assemble for tonight's action.

Once in the ground I noticed a new stand at the far end, I have watched this ground slowly grow year on year and I believe League football is the aim in the next five years.

Team Warming Up

The match was the typical pre-season some first team players some youth and a few trial players. We had two teams for each half the fist team was Begovic, Wilson, Kaboul, Distin, Bhasera, Basinas, Mullins, Hughes, Kranjcar, Ritchie, Nugent and the second was Ashdown, Ward, Audel, Primus, Hurst, Bopp, Diop, M'Bami, Cowan-Hall, Pancrate, Subotic. and the second team was the better of the two, we took a two goal lead by a trialist called Boop and we looked good for the win until the Hawks woke up and got two goals back but all in all I enjoyed the game it was good to see the boys back well some of them anyway. It was a bit strange to see the new kit without a sponsor on it, but I quite liked it.

Teams In Play

So that was the start of the Mew Era at Pompey lets see how this one goes.

PS if you go to Westleigh Park don't eat the cheesy chips!

Pompeygary

Of to Havant

I will be taking in the sights and sounds of Havant tonight well the Leigh Park bit ( it is Europe's second biggest council estate there will be a few sight and sounds I tell you) It's time for the annual pre season game against Havant & Waterlooville, it should be interesting down there tonight as the good Dr is the new chairman lots to talk about and there should be a few press too.

The Hart Of It

First day in and the Dr has appointed Paul Hart as the permanent manager, am I deflated well no, did I want a big name manager well yes, but as I said in the last post I would like the club to be sensible, it is almost like we are a new team to the Premier League so it is a sort of start all over again but with a bit of experience.
So the top priority is survival end of, and a sensible improvement of the infrastructure like a new training ground and the redevelopment of Fratton Park.
So the appointment of Mr Hart to me is the cheap option yes but it is also the sensible one for now.

Pompeygary

The King Is Dead.......

So Portsmouth FC have a new owner well chairman, I don't know the ins and outs of the business world but in time the Dr will become the full owner of the club. The one thing I am very relieved about is the club can still exist, it's not poetic justice as some of our friends down the road have said, I for one did not want to see them suffer but we have been through this at least 3 times in the last 30 odd years, I don't want this to happen again, we have had our fare share of financial trouble so lets get it done right this time, we must cut our cloth accordingly.

Unfortunately and sadly I think a Big club will fall big time in the next five years, reportedly one club are 700 million debt, as long as it is sustainable it is not a problem but it will not last forever just look at Leeds for one.

Pompeygary

And So It Happens

From Portsmouth FC

SULAIMAN AL FAHIM BECOMES POMPEY CHAIRMAN

The owners of Portsmouth Football Club are pleased to announce that an agreement in principle has been reached over the sale of the club to Al Fahim Asia Associates and, as a result, Sulaiman Al Fahim, the sole owner and chairman of Al Fahim Asia Associates, will join the existing four-member board of Portsmouth Football Club as chairman with immediate effect.

The appointment of Sulaiman Al Fahim follows confirmation by the FA Premier League that he has passed its criteria to be deemed a "a fit and proper" person to control a Premier League club. Al Fahim is the first person to pass the new fit and proper test.

Sulaiman Al Fahim said: "I very much look forward to working closely with the club's management and supporters to develop Portsmouth Football Club and deliver future success. The club has a long and fine history of achievement that I intend to build on."

Peter Storrie, who has agreed to continue as chief executive officer of Portsmouth Football Club, said: "This appointment brings stability to the club and is excellent news for Pompey supporters.

“I have every reason to believe that together with the new chairman we will be able to take the club forward to further achievements, building on the successes of the past three years.”

A Mate Phoned Me

This is your typical ITK (In The Know) post at your average Pompey message board.

...... My mate phoned me to tell me the club is going into administration! he works at the club.............My next door neighbour works at Fratton Park and told me over the garden fence that the club we go into admin if we are not bought by midnight etc etc.

Mmmmm is this true or are the fans from up the road winding us up? I don't know, but all I am hearing from the press is the deal will be done this week, if not tomorrow and I don't believe the press that much either.

I will only take the truth from the club itself, so until Portsmouth FC announce one way or the other I will stop reading these message boards, well just one more peak.


Pompeygary

Panic In The Streets Of Portsmouth

So it's headless chicken time today as reports of the sale of Peter Crouch and the possible sale of Distin, so what does Pompeygary think of this? well I have always taken a sit back and see what happens view, I don't have control over the club so I can do nothing. I was there when the club were seven points adrift at the bottom of Division 1 and going into administration, and selling players for 50p well for very little.

But now we are in the Premier League for the seventh year and we have also won the FA cup I know were we are now is a better place to be, I will say this "three leagues and -10 points above the Scum"

So with what looks like asset stripping by our Russian owner and a doom and gloom on all fronts then I tell you this Sulaiman Al Fahim’s takeover of Portsmouth Football Club will be completed on Friday July 24, with the UAE tycoon flying to London tonight to finalise the deal with the club’s current owners. That is from the same site that reported the initial buy-out from the good Doctor so we will see, sit back and relax life is to short my friend.

Pompeygary

Statement From The Club

Well it looks like Peter Storrie has been reading my Blog !

From PFC

Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that the due diligence process for the takeover of the club by Sulaiman Al Fahim has now been completed.

Al Fahim Asia Associates are now conducting their final commercial assessment.

A formal application for the ‘Fit and Proper Person Test’ has been submitted to the Premier League.

WUMs, ITKs and DOOM AND GLOOMERS

I love the message boards on the net, one post will be like "that's it we are doomed" and another would say" I have been told by someone at the club". This is all very entertaining if a little worrying to the reader but message boards are no more than a virtual sit round the pub table with your mates who have heard someone who knows someone and so on. No fact, no proof( a bit like The Sun sports pages) But as I have said many times before we will only know when the official people let us know, but as I walked around Portsmouth on Saturday the amount of people talking about the take over and the concern in their voices is not healthy, as I said the club have to calm people down by some sort of statement good or bad. Pompey people are good folk who don't like to be messed about. I like to deal in Facts, business is business and business men are so far removed from the real world it scares me, but we have to put our trust in them and wait until they tell us something good or bad, but with all that media noise going on it's bloody hard work.

Pompeygary.

Links

I have decided to only put links to websites that I think talk the truth so the links list will be smaller this season ( I know the official site is on the list some would say that is full of bull but I had to it's the official site ) It will grow slowly as I filter them one by one. Look to the top right of the page.

Pompeygary

Official statements?

In this age of the internet and mobile phones, it is so easy to find out and get information on anything. So why is my football club a bit on the slow side to giving out information to the most important people the fans?. I know that we should wait for official announcements from the club about this and that but the tension is not healthy, the media outlets are mostly full of bull but with a combination message boards and the press it's a bit of a mind field trying to seek the truth. So I think Pompey owe the paying fans an update once and a while.
Pompeygary

Today's top rumour

With just a short time to go until Portsmouth FC is to be taken over (or not) the lovely press are putting Peter Crouch up for sale, that's nice of them.

From the Sunderland Echo ,Sunderland target Peter Crouch is now officially up for grabs at Portsmouth, with his agent signalling for the first time that the player will leave Fratton Park...............Crouch's agent, Jonathan Barnett said: "I think Portsmouth have financial problems and I think every player is available.
"He doesn't feel been let down, though – he has a great relationship with Portsmouth.

"He's a Portsmouth player, he likes the club and thinks a lot of chief executive Peter Storrie and manager Paul Hart.

"He is happy, but if there are circumstances where he has to move, that is football I'm afraid.

"He's still on holiday at the moment and has been given a few more days off by the club because he has been playing for England.

"There's nothing untoward about that – all the England team are allowed a bit longer off.

"But if Portsmouth were to receive an offer from somebody then we would have to listen to it.'

Pompey have remained tight-lipped over the future of their players after they returned to training yesterday.

Executive chairman Peter Storrie is keeping a low profile until Al Fahim's protracted takeover is sealed.

The message boards are going a bit nuts at the moment with the word Asset Stripping and such like, the doom and gloom love this one picking out the "I think every player is available" bit.

We are so close to knowing what is going on at Pompey but yet it seems so far away.

More links to this great story.
Link 1 Link 2 Link 3