Pompey set to test Premier League rules

Posted Saturday, February 27, 2010 by PA

Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou is set to ask the Premier League for special dispensation on three separate fronts.

Andronikou was appointed after Pompey became the first Premier League club to go into administration on Friday morning. That should mean a nine-point deduction which would effectively seal the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

But Andronikou wants to "test the rule" regarding a points deduction and will also seek early parachute payments and the ability to sell players outside the transfer window.

He told Sky Sports News: "I understand everyone is taking it for granted we are going to be docked the nine points.

"It is something I need to broach with the Premier League and then look to start talking about parachute payments. I need that to be confirmed during the course of the week.

"We need to go through the formal process. I think it's early days to be talking about deducting the nine points.

"It is the rule at the moment but we are the first Premier League club to have gone into administration so let's just test the rule."

Asked whether he would ask them not to dock the points, Andronikou answered: "It could be on the agenda. (But) I can imagine they will be very firm in their decision."

Andronikou will look at Pompey's finances and admitted he will be "cutting to the bone".

But despite his hopes of raising £3-7million, he has promised there will be no fire sale, and added: "Obviously I need to generate working capital in the next two months. As part of that process I will need to sell one or two players and that's the reason for us talking to the Premier League. But I'm not looking at selling the players on a fire-sale basis."