5 Aug 2010English Premier League rivals 'wanted Portsmouth thrown out'

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News

English Premier League football clubs wanted debt-stricken Portsmouth to be kicked out of the division in March to pocket their remaining television revenue, the team's barrister has claimed.

Speaking at the latest round of Portsmouth's High Court battle with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Richard Sheldon claimed all 19 of the south coast side's top-flight rivals were ready to exclude the team until chief executive Richard Scudamore intervened.

"The clubs in the [English Premier League] wanted to boot Portsmouth out there and then," he told the hearing. "The other clubs wanted Portsmouth Football Club to go to the wall and divide all the TV and other money among themselves."

Sheldon also warned that if Mr Justice Mann blocks Balsam Chainrai's attempt to purchase the club, they will most likely be relegated from the Football League and go into liquidation.

HMRC is taking action over a disputed company voluntary agreement as part of a wider effort to scrap the controversial football creditors rule.

Influence Football's Decision Makers - Join the Football Fans Census

Written by Mark Thompson

© Copyright