Why the authorities must ensure that lessons are learnt from Pompey’s demise

Although this Premier League season has been the most topsy-turvy, dramatic and exciting yet, Football FanCast looks at how it has been overshadowed by the farcical issue of football finances.

Whether it be Portsmouth, Cardiff, Southend, or even Chester City, last year’s recession seems to have hacked down financial structures at every tier within the football league system.

Portsmouth have been headlined here, there and everywhere since businessman Ali Al Faraj took over from Alexander Gaydamak in October, and you do begin to question exactly how such a meltdown could happen to what was an established Premier League outfit.

Balram Chainrai now owns the club although he admitted himself that it was only temporary until they found a buyer. That buyer hasn’t come, despite the club now having four different owners since the summer, they have become the first Premier League club to go into administration.

Portsmouth will be deducted 9 points from the Premier League, leaving them 14 points adrift; a total that surely could not be closed. They could be further deducted 20 points before next year’s Championship season even starts, should the administrators fail to agree a deal with debt creditors.

We shouldn’t be entirely surprised with Leeds being a timely example of what can happen if a club is run inadequately, and it can turn a club from Champions League semi-finalists to the depths of League One within three seasons of misery.

Perhaps the Premier League should have stepped in on that occasion and maybe that opportunity will arise again. It might well be a good option if our leagues, especially the top flight, are to stay regarded as the best in the world.

You do wonder for how long, with Barcelona continuing to dominate both domestically and in Europe, the English teams and the league system, will be regarded as true forces in the global frame.

Written By Edward Bretherton