Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie admits the club's best hope for Wednesday's court date with HM Revenue & Customs is to delay the winding-up order.
HMRC issued the petition over unpaid debts at the end of last year and the club failed in their bid to have it struck out by a High Court judge in a hearing on January 16.
Since then, Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai has become Pompey's fourth owner of the season after last week acquiring Ali Al Faraj's 90% stake in the club.
Chainrai's main intention is to recover money he is owed by the club, however, and Portsmouth are seeking yet another owner to take on responsibility for the long term.
Storrie, who was been charged with running the club on a day-to-day basis, is optimistic they will avoid going into administration.
He told ESPN Soccernet: "Our priority is Wednesday's court date with the Revenue.
"Our objective, now the new owner is in place, is to seek from the courts a stay of the winding-up order. We need time for a new buyer to come in and then we will be in a position to pay the Revenue.
"If the Revenue wind this club up, then they will get nothing, and that cannot be the right answer. We're in talks with potential new owners, which would be our fifth owner already this season.
"I've heard the joke about how we have had more owners than wins this season but the media have been putting the knife in all season and no one is going to stop now."
Portsmouth continue their bid to avoid relegation on the pitch against free-falling Sunderland at Fratton Park tomorrow.
Pompey's 5-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday kept them rooted to the foot of the table and seven points from safety.
But with Sunderland searching for their first league win since November and games against Stoke and Burnley to come this month, manager Avram Grant insists Pompey's position is not hopeless.
"Even big clubs get relegated but the most important thing is stability off and on the pitch," said the Israeli, who can draw on last month's FA Cup win over Sunderland for inspiration.
"On the pitch we are doing very well and, when you look back over the years, the team at the bottom you see a lot of difference from them to other teams, but there's not a lot of difference between us and 10th place."
Grant again hit out at the Premier League for failing to lift the club's transfer embargo earlier.
"We have what we have and they are trying their best," he added. "We were waiting for January and we wanted players that know how to score goals but the Premier League decided not to lift the embargo until three days before (the end of the window) and only for loan players.
"I keep saying that the Premier League didn't take responsibility for the situation.
"We were waiting for January and we didn't have a lot of money but we had players on our list that could improve the team, but the Premier League didn't allow us to do that.
"We're trying our best and I'm sure we will score goals before the end of the season and it will be enough."
Portsmouth could be without Kevin-Prince Boateng and Anthony Vanden Borre after both limped off against United.
Steve Finnan could replace Vanden Borre at right-back. John Utaka (hamstring) may return but Papa Bouba Diop is still sidelined.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments