John Helm: Jermain Defoe showing World Cup form
PORTSMOUTH insolvent, Crystal Palace in administration, Notts County sold for £1, to say nothing of Chester City who are at death’s doorstep.
What does that tell us about the state of English football?
Well, not a lot actually because this year’s Portsmouth is last year’s Southampton, and incredibly over 60 professional clubs have been in similar predicaments, despite only Aldershot and Maidstone United going to the guillotine.
The High Court decision to extend Pompey’s stay of execution was seen by many as yet further evidence of football’s immunity from the sort of punishment that would be meted out to less high-profile businesses.
As Southend United, Cardiff City, Palace and County have also escaped sanctions so far, it begs the question just how much debt football clubs are allowed to incur before HM Customs and Excise lose patience?
It’s amazing and mightily fortuitous that three of the four on the verge of bankruptcy have enjoyed lucrative cup runs, with Pompey and Palace still in with a shout of going all the way to Wembley.
Neil Warnock and Avran Grant are doing incredibly well to keep their players focused on achieving the sort of results that give fretting fans something to hang on to.
I know I just said that Crystal Palace have escaped sanction, and I’m only too aware of the 10-point penalty that’s taken them from play-off contention to potential relegation, but at least they’re still alive and kicking, which is what I was really alluding to.
I’ve never understood why administration equals a points deduction. The only people punished this way are playing staff and fans.
Surely it’s the directors who get the sums wrong who should be in the dock. Chester is a classic example of that. They have been amateurishly run for so long it’s no surprise they’re close to oblivion.Real Madrid or Manchester United could be billions in debt, but the banks wouldn’t dare let them go the wall.
You might think no-one will care if it’s RIP Chester City or Southend United, but I can assure you there are folk out there for whom it would be the end of the world. Portsmouth are in the headlines because they represent the Premier League, but having suffered the torture of my club Bradford (Park Avenue) once going under, I CAN identify with every dilemma.
