Deadline day has passed – What a relief!

EVERY football fan longs for the transfer window to open. The fact is, despite the excitement and entertainment deadline day brings, most are quietly disappointed when it reaches its climax.

Yet for Portsmouth fans, they can finally come out from behind the sofa and stop hiding their eyes.

Possibly the only club in England who will be delighted to see the back of the January transfer window, Portsmouth Football Club yesterday managed to keep hold of all but one of their prize assets, a result which is seen by following supporters as a major positive.

On the look out for yet another owner after parent company CSI were placed into administration, the South coast club are in desperate financial toil as they battle to stay alive. A £1.6 million winding up order over unpaid tax faces the club towards the end of the month, and many expected the club to use their already depleted squad to raise the required funds.

January’s wages have yet to be paid, the bank account has been frozen and the situation is almost as grim as it was when the club last plunged into administration, becoming the first Premier League side to do so in 2010.

Portsmouth supposedly rejected three bids for promising central defender Jason Pearce, who joined the club in the summer from Bournemouth. Goalkeeper Stephen Henderson and the versatile Joel Ward also remained at the club.

The highly regarded trio were subject to a triple bid from fellow Championship rivals Ipswich, yet the move never materialised. Fans were left holding their breath all day, in fear that the clubs prize assets would be moved on, leaving the club starved of bodies as they prepare to fight what could end up being a relegation dog fight.

Yes, the loss of youngster Ryan Williams to Fulham for a reported £400,000 will be a bitter pill to swallow, but many fans will accept the loss of a player who has yet to break the first team barrier permanently over the loss of a first team regular.

Had the club sold any of their first team staff, it’s fair to assume the money would be used to pay off the debt rather than being re-invested in the squad. Pompey have already been told they must only operate on a one in one out basis.

Fans of the blues have had a rollercoaster ride to say the least in the past 4 years, numerous owners, promises and hopes all disappearing, yet the spirit the supporters hold is beyond belief.

Despite the situation, the support shown towards the club and its players on the pitch is truly amazing. I’m sure that yesterday’s deadline day was another nerve crushing episode in the life of a Pompey fan, yet I can guarantee the relief shown by every fan following the clubs transfer dealings come 11 o’clock and the chiming of Big Ben was a picture to be seen.

By not raising the sufficient funds in the transfer window, the club may be left in the lurch come the end of February, however the spirit of its renowned fans will never be broken, and they will follow the club to the very end. Maybe it is about time the Fratton faithful were handed a piece of positive news for them all to enjoy.

A new owner and financial stability, the two things Portsmouth fans would take over anything else on offer at this moment in time.
 

JOSH SWEETMAN LE-MAY

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