Portsmouth angry about Tottenham deal
You'd think that if Portsmouth had mastered one thing over the last two miserable years, it would be the art of selling players, however even that skill deserted them on deadline day as the authorities ruled that they sent the paperwork for Tommy Smith's move to QPR too late.
According to Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou, the Football League claimed that the deal wasn't completed until around 6.02pm last Monday, meaning that the south coast club will now have to loan the striker to the Hoops initially and then finalise a permanent arrangement in January.
It wasn't the only deal that they were unable to push through in the closing moments of the transfer window, after Liam Lawrence's switch from Stoke to the [2.18] Championship relegation favourites was also refused by the Football League for similar reasons.
Failure to land the Irish winger prompted Andronikou to take a shot at both English football's powerbrokers and Tottenham, who he perceives to have received favourable treatment: "It was sorted before 6pm, I can tell you.
"Unfortunately, we are not Tottenham and are not allowed to have this issue sorted the next day as they did with Rafael van der Vaart. This sort of thing will only happen to us. There is proper brinkmanship going on just because we are Portsmouth Football Club."
Do you feel Andronikou's complaints are justified or is he trying to take the pressure off himself and win round supporters? Have your say below...
Published: 8 Sep 2010
Anonymous (September 8, 2010 11:56 AM) said:
He has a fair comment about the spurs situation... But he's still a media loving snake. Stop whittering on about transfers et al and get on with selling the club... to anyone but balu please
Anonymous (September 8, 2010 11:59 AM) said:
portsmouth are constantly made an example of whereas financially stable clubs like tottenham with a good reputation receive favourable treatment in the same situations. Adronikou is spot on in my opinion
Tim (September 8, 2010 12:24 PM) said:
Hmmmm, what about the rule that was twisted to allow Portsmouth to sell players during the season?
nath (September 8, 2010 12:32 PM) said:
About time, the clowns have got away with far to much at pompey already! Fact is they shouldn't be in business!
Dave (September 8, 2010 12:36 PM) said:
Different situation.
Tottenham showed a reason for the late registration which was a legitimate problem. FA Rules take this into consideration and they investigated it. Portsmouth were just late, which is shoddy.
Anonymous (September 8, 2010 12:41 PM) said:
To the two comments 11:56 and 11:49. You or Portsmith dont know exactly when Tottenham sent their papers.
Tottenham provided enough proof that it was before the deadline time, end of story
irrelvant article
Anonymous (September 8, 2010 1:44 PM) said:
If the Smith deal was rejected for being completed two minutes late then the whole affair is a farce.After all clocks have been known to be a couple of minutes behind or ahead of actual time. Don't the league allow for such a ridiculously small time difference? Seems to me Pompey is being victimised.
darkspur1 (September 8, 2010 2:02 PM) said:
Pay your Pompey debts and stop hooting. You would think they would count themselves lucky to have been allowed to progress to an FA Cup final with a 'moody' team which hadn't been legitimately paid for, but no they are still moaning. Please don't compare yourselves with well run clubs like Spurs.
'PAY UP POMPEY, POMPEY PAYUP!'
Stoney (September 8, 2010 3:34 PM) said:
For a club that got away with not paying £75m of money owed to the public funds, when schools are getting redevelopment projects cancelled which this money could have paid for, and had it been any other company in other line of business they would have been liquidated, I'm amazed at the audacity of this individual to pipe up on such a matter. I'd keep very far away from the limelight if I were him and go and get a bit of perspective. He's obviously lacking in a conscience or just very stupid.
Tony (September 8, 2010 6:31 PM) said:
Andronikou is an Arsenal supporter. Enough said!
Bob Daniels (September 8, 2010 11:17 PM) said:
Leaders do not make excuses. (Big boys don't cry!
Cpaino (September 9, 2010 2:53 AM) said:
Maybe they should have mailed. Use the "Postal rule".
Once you put it into the mail box, its considered delivered!
Fozz (September 9, 2010 5:05 AM) said:
I like Portsmouth and it's a real shame what has and is happening to the club but surly people who are bad mouthing spurs as tho they are some how responsible are just bitter. Portsmouth were run very badly from a financial POV whereas spurs are run with the precision of a navy frigate. It's no wonder a team like spurs are given the benifit of doubt when it comes to financialatters including transfers, there record is solid. Can PM say the same. Besides, why hack on tottenham, we did everything we could to help u out when u were circling the plug hole. Brought your players, released u of money owed us by taking players back for less than was owed us. I can sympathies with PM supporters but honestly guys it's time to put blame where it is due and it's not with Spurs!
Alex (September 9, 2010 9:05 AM) said:
Surely everyone telling us to 'pay our debts' would want one of our player sales to go through?
I know AA always wants his face in the camera but he does have a point. We're not disputing the time of Van der Vaarts transfer, the point is that the doubt surrounding it was sorted out the very next day whereas for two of our deals we've had to wait a lot longer.
From that aspect it does look like Spurs have had preferential treatment.
PUP