League to await Pompey decision

Posted Tuesday, March 02, 2010 by PA

The Premier League will await the outcome of Portsmouth's High Court appearance on Tuesday before considering the stricken club's future.

Administrator Andrew Andronikou was due to meet Premier League officials on Tuesday morning to discuss a number of issues, including the possibility of waiving the nine-point deduction imposed on sides going into administration.

However, on Monday Portsmouth were summoned to attend a Tuesday hearing at the High Court to answer questions from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over their voluntary administration and so that meeting has been postponed.

The club went into administration on Friday with estimated debts of £78million, including an outstanding tax bill of £12.1million.

It is understood the club will be given time to consider their response before being asked to attend a second hearing, where a decision on the validity of the administration will be made.

Andronikou does not expect this latest development to threaten the administration process at this stage.

"We're not unduly worried," he said. "It's not standard procedure but I'd imagine that HMRC are basically crossing their t's and dotting their i's.

"We're expecting the administration to proceed as it was."