Pompey Deducted 9 Points, Condeming Them To Relegation

Portsmouth have been deducted nine points for going into administration, the Premier League has confirmed.

Pompey entered administration in February following terrible financial problems, after they could not find a buyer to take on the club’s crippling debts. The deduction comes after the High Court declared the South Coast club’s administration valid and winding-up order suspended, after HM Revenue and Customs dropped their challenge.

Administrator Andrew Andronikou attended a meeting with the Premier League on Wednesday when the penalty against the Fratton Park outfit was confirmed. Pompey’s total points tally for the season is now reduced from 19 to ten, all but condemning them to relegation to the Championship. It leaves Avram Grant’s side 17 points adrift of safety with only nine league games remaining until the end of the campaign.

A statement from the Premier League said: “Following the High Court’s decision that Portsmouth FC’s administration is valid the Premier League board convened today to apply the League’s rules and policies in relation to a member club suffering an event of insolvency. “As a result Portsmouth FC has been deducted nine points with immediate effect. “As part of this process the board met with the administrator to agree how we will work together for the remainder of the season to ensure that the club is able fulfil its commitments.”

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.