I only blog now when a crisis is here. This is one of those times...
Portsmouth FC. The most passionate fans, the most intimidating stadium in England, the most mismanaged club. As I type, Vladimir Antonov and his company, CSI, are under investigation for all sorts of crimes and irregularities. Now, my purpose is not to go into whether he has, or has not, actually committed these 'crimes' and whether he is or not guilty, but to share my experiences of how Portsmouth's continual plight has affected me, subjectively.
I remember the 'good ol' days', the promotion season under Redknapp with Toddy banging the goals in left, right and centre. I remember the Great Escape, Pedro Mendes v Man City on March 11th 2006 - see I still remember the date! - I will never forget that 95th minute strike that changed everything. I remember the days where world class players were bought and it seemed almost natural to the fans, the norm. Diarra, Defoe, Crouch, Muntari, Campbell..... I remember the FA Cup win of 17th May 2008, the greatest day of my life, the only day I've cried at a football match. A day I shall never forget.
However, this seems like a lifetime ago now.... so much has changed. We are a different club entirely. Of course, any club has good times and bad, even Man Utd and suchlike. However, no club has been on a roller coaster as much as Portsmouth.
The sad thing is, every time a new owner came in, I had faith, I had belief that he was 'the one'. He, be it Al Fahim, Al Faraj, hell, even Chanrai, would save us. They would stabilise the club and build future foundations. The administration saga (part 1) nearly destroyed my love for Portsmouth. Everything became a joke - Daniel Azoughy, Marc Jacobs etc etc... All these shifty characters who had nothing to do with football suddenly running our club. This club wasn't the one I had grown up supporting. It wasn't the one I had watched from the same seat in the North Stand for seven or eight years. If the team of 2010 hadn't had that FA Cup run, beating Southampton, beating Spurs, I cannot be sure I'd still be supporting the club. This isn't to say I'm not a diehard fan, but I believe I simply wouldn't have been able to do it any more. My club meant so much to me, it was killing me to see it torn apart and I really can't see how I could have been a part of that anymore. Nonetheless, I stayed. Purely through hope I think. Hope of a bright, better future.
That hope arrived, or so I believed, through CSI on 1st June 2011. Mr Antonov and Mr Dubov were the men with the plans. A 'five year vision' was introduced. Foundations were built for the academy, the training ground had a revamp and money was (finally) spent on quality acquisitions such as Luke Varney and Greg Halford. We were set for the future.... Yet it all comes crashing down. Again. Everything has gone wrong again. The free flags given out at the home game against Brighton in August stated, 'A new era. Everything is possible'. I don't think it was meant the way it has turned out.
The crux of my view is, can I handle this whole saga again? I'm not so sure. Old men, who have been supporting their clubs all their lives don't see one administration. I'm on the verge of seeing two in a couple of years. This may tip me over the edge. Again, I must reiterate, I'm not a 'fairweather' fan, I've been to over 150 games, home and away, however, things are getting too much. Talk of 'Phoenix' clubs are being brought up again, as is the 'Pompey Trust' or whatever it is called. Be realistic, these 'initiatives' won't make one spot of difference.
Manager, Michael Appleton, a bold appointment in itself, has revealed how he has basically been 'duped' into the 'vision' of CSI as well and that things are going to have to change from that already, just days after becoming manager of the club. This prime example illustrates just how mismanaged the club is and has been.
Now, of course, Portsmouth FC has a large role to play in their ownership and financial meltdown but lurking in the shadows is the Premier League and the Football League. They have been grossly negligent in their duties. The fit and proper persons test has failed for the 4th time, and that's only Portsmouth! Forget Shinawatra and his ilk! The Premier League were all too happy to deduct the club 9 points, but they were also too happy in letting anyone who walked off the street being able to own Portsmouth. Not once had they met or spoken too Al Faraj before he took control of the club. Yet since those days of 2009/2010, what has changed in their approach? Nothing. How so? Because the exact same thing happened with Antonov and CSI! The football league passed CSI as 'Fit and Proper' to control Portsmouth yet the Financial Services Authority, General Motors (when CSI tried to purchase Saab) and the European Investment Bank were not so happy to have dealings with such a company. Again, I suggest the Football League will lurk in the shadows until the issue of a points deduction comes about, will say they will hold a review into CSI's ownership and will wait for the fuss to die down. The Football League have many questions to answer, yet who will hold them to account?
So, I believe the end may be nigh... not for Portsmouth, but for me. I have (nearly) had enough. This season will make or break it for me. I will not shed more tears or worry any more about my club going through the whole ownership saga again if it goes beyond this season. It is too much of a burden. I genuinely think Portsmouth will survive. Tough years are ahead, but Portsmouth will keep fighting and, if and when they are on a more stable footing, I'll have a little smile to myself. After all, I still have those memories of AC Milan, of beating Man Utd regularly, of 4-1 twice against Southampton! If Portsmouth go, my memories won't.
