Portsmouth administrator relaxed over ruling

A High Court judge yesterday ordered a hearing to be convened in a fortnight to ascertain whether the administrator was validly appointed.

Mr Justice Norr is insisted the "shadow over the appointment should be removed".

He also directed Portsmouth to provide evidence of "each and every sum" which Portpin – the company of Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai, who has a controlling interest in the club – lent to the club and also "full particulars" of any money paid to Portpin and Mr Chainrai by the club.

Andronikou said that was, specifically, a matter for Portsmouth the company and his job of selling the club would continue unaffected.

"They have asked for some information to substantiate the chargeholder's debt, which we have got anyway," he said.

"It is not me, if you look at the semantics of the order, it is the company.

"The company have to provide the information so I am just getting on with what I have to do.

"HMRC have a right to ask questions and we have answers so we are moving on as normal.

"We are all very relaxed. It doesn't affect things whatsoever. In terms of what I am doing everything is continuing as normal. It is just as it was on Friday."

Andronikou had a meeting scheduled with the Premier League yesterday, at which he hoped to persuade them to waive the nine-point deduction for entering administration, but that was postponed in light of the High Court hearing.

The Premier League are now considering the comments of the judge before deciding how to proceed.

Portsmouth went into administration on Friday with estimated debts of 78m, including an outstanding tax bill of 12.1million.

Gregory Mitchell QC, told the High Court HMRC wanted to know how a "succession of owners of the club have allowed such enormous debts to accrue".

"How is it possible that this once-great club has become insolvent with liabilities exceeding assets by a figure of 65 million?" he said.