Pompey on verge of takeover

[Swipe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...uth/8070535.stm

 

Portsmouth on brink of takeover

 

 

Portsmouth are close to being taken over by United Arab Emirates businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim, BBC Sport understands.

 

Al Fahim was the frontman for Abu Dhabi United Group when it took over Manchester City in September 2008.

 

He is believed to held talks with Pompey owner Alexandre Gaydamak at the Champions League final in Rome.

 

Pompey, who avoided relegation from the Premier League this season, have yet to make any comment on the takeover.

 

Gaydamak stated late last year that he wanted to sell the club.

 

He revealed he had rejected two offers for the south coast outfit as he wanted to sell to a buyer who would be committed to funding a new stadium and training ground for the club.

 

Gaydamak initially bought into Pompey as joint owner in January 2006 when he struck a deal with then-chairman Milan Mandaric.

 

He then bought out Mandaric, who now owns Leicester City, for about £32m.

 

Under the Franco-Russian's ownership the club won the 2008 FA Cup but he has said he can "no longer invest the time required to oversee the running of the club".

[ManxRed]

Right now, Michael Owen is typing 'Fratton Park' into Streetmap.co.uk and phoning his agent with the other hand. £150k a week ought to do it, eh Mikey?

[Tosh]

Johnny on the spot or what..?

 

"He is believed to held talks with Pompey owner Alexandre Gaydamak at the Champions League final in Rome." It doesn't kick off for another two hours!!

[Gomez]

So what does this actually mean?

 

If this bloke brokered the City deal, is he brokering this deal for another bunch of mega rich arabs, or is be buying it for himself?

 

If the later, why? Is he mega rich himself?

 

Is he still involved in City, or is he just the Amanda Stavely figure, the equivalent of her buying a team?

[cymrococh]

Right now, Michael Owen is typing 'Fratton Park' into Streetmap.co.uk and phoning his agent with the other hand. £150k a week ought to do it, eh Mikey?

Harry Redknapp is tying a dish towel to his head as we speak.

[CarraLegend]

Didnt take this c*** long!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...uth/8073688.stm

 

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has expressed an interest in becoming the new manager of Portsmouth.

 

The club are in the process of being taken over by Sulaiman Al Fahim, who is believed to be seeking a high-profile manager to head his ambitious plans.

 

"Portsmouth is a club with money and ambition, which is very important to any top manager," said Eriksson's agent Athole Still.

 

"Of course it would be a club that interests Sven."

 

Eriksson, 61, was linked with Portsmouth following Tony Adams' departure in February but was contracted to the Mexico national side at the time.

 

However, Eriksson - who led England to three major tournament quarter-finals during his six-year reign as national coach - was sacked a month later due to a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.

 

Still says his client is now ready to return to the club game in England, where he led Manchester City to a ninth-place finish in 2008 before being sacked after just a year in charge.

 

"All that I would say at the moment is he has an interest in coming back to the Premier League, and has an interest in being involved with any club that has genuine ambitions," said Still.

 

"He wants to be back in the game within weeks rather than months, and has offers on the table at home and abroad.

 

"At this moment in time, there has been no official approach from Portsmouth, though."

 

It was anticipated that Paul Hart would be given a long-term deal to manage Pompey after steering the club clear of relegation during his caretaker spell which started in February.

 

This was before the takeover by Arabian property tycoon Al Fahim was announced on Wednesday, with the deal expected to be formalised in the next few weeks.

 

Al Fahim was the initial figurehead of the Abu Dhabi United Group when they took control of Manchester City last year, but is now acting for himself.