Are Portsmouth Gone Anyway?

English Premier League battlers Portsmouth were given a seven-day stay of execution on Wednesday after the High Court was told the club was 'insolvent' owing them a staggering £11.5m.

For now, it is a reprieve for Pompey who faced a winding-up order, but seven days isn't exactly sufficient time to find new owners. NFL jerseys

The situation suggests Portsmouth could soon move into administration and be deducted points as they try to survive in the top flight.

But even if they can't find a miracle buyer, it appears the club are set for the drop anyway.

Portsmouth are currently rock bottom of the Premier League (and have been for some time now) trailing their nearest opponents, Wolverhampton, by five points. They're a long way from safety.

Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland was hardly ideal but having been reduced to ten men after Ricardo Rocha conceded a penalty, which Darren Bent converted, Pompey did well to grab a late equaliser courtesy of Aruna Dindane.

It is these sorts of things which managers say can galvanise a team and turn their season around.

A reinvigorated Marc Wilson said after the Sunderland draw: “If we keep pulling together and give everything I think we can stay up.

“We’re really fired up and feel we can get points from the next few games. This could be the turning point.

“I think we have to be united – and we showed that. We just have to do our best on the pitch.”

The Portsmouth players were seen gathering in a circle after the Sunderland match and the word since the game is they won't go down without a fight.

And considering Portsmouth pulled off a remarkable safety mission over a decade ago, there remains some hope of a repeat, because as Andy Awford (a member of that Blues side which miraculously survived back in the late-nineties) says, 'that is what Pompey are all about'

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant, though, seemed more concerned with the referee's performance after the game, having been sent to the stands at the break after going to face-to-face with the official at half-time.

He's clearly becoming a frustrated figure and with such a task on his hands, it is understandable why.

But while we're on the topic of Grant, he is quite a capable manager and offers Portsmouth some hope.

Still, he's been in charge since mid-November and while Portsmouth have improved, they still sit last.

Curiously they haven't won in the Premier League since mid-December when they stunned Liverpool 2-0 at Fratton Park.


Realistically, they have the weakest squad in the Premier League and it is hard to see them surviving, despite their discussion of a 'turning point'. Their performances (ignoring their gutsy draw with Sunderland) reflect their lack of quality.

So considering the squad at his disposal, Grant really has a difficult task especially with the January transfer window finished with first-choice defender Younes Kaboul moving on as the club tried to sell some assets.

And to rub salt into the wounds, now as well Portsmouth face the threat of points being deducted. It's unfortunate, but it is hard to see them surviving.