Read the article about Pompey going back into administration.

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Portsmouth enter administration & are docked 10 points Portsmouth Football Club have been penalised 10 points after entering administration for the second time in three seasons.

The deduction puts the Championship club just above the relegation zone.

Portsmouth had been issued with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs on 3 January, freezing the club's bank accounts.

The administrator will be Trevor Birch of PKF, a firm with a track record of dealing with clubs in administration.

Portsmouth had asked the court to appoint Andrew Andronikou , who oversaw the club's last administration two years ago, and is currently handling the same process with Pompey's parent company.

The administration order enables Portsmouth to access their bank accounts and continue trading while Birch, who was proposed as administrator by HMRC, searches for new owners.

In a statement, HMRC said it had been concerned about a possible conflict of interest had Andonikou been appointed.

The statement continued: "HMRC is pleased that the Court agreed with our view that the creditors of any business have a right to expect that the administrator in these circumstances is completely independent."

Mr Birch said he hoped the club's supporters would also be happy to see a new face in charge.

Trevor Birch
  • Former professional footballer with Shrewsbury and Chester
  • As Chelsea chief executive brokered Roman Abramovich's £180m takeover of the club
  • Has also served as chief executive at Leeds United, Everton, Derby County and Sheffield United
"The intention is to try and sell the club as a going concern," he said.

"I'm used to dealing with clubs in crisis. You could say most of the Championship is in crisis, with 30% of clubs paying wages in excess of 100% of their turnover.

"You have to travel hopefully and confidently. Maybe the new appointment will encourage someone to come out of the woodwork and bid [for the club]."

During the hearing at the High Court, it was revealed that Portsmouth currently owe around £2m to business creditors, as well as a similar sum to the Inland Revenue in unpaid tax.

Continue reading the main story “By going into administration other opportunities will come up for investors, who would have been reluctant to buy the club with a winding-up order hanging over it”

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt Among those creditors are fellow football clubs West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol City, as well as the Football League itself. Portsmouth City Council is owed £78,000.

It also emerged electricity and gas suppliers have been threatening to cut off power to the club's Fratton Park stadium for non-payment.

And, although Pompey are set to be docked 10 points for going into administation, they could lose further points at the discretion of the Football League as a result of it happening for the second time in such a short period of time.

Remarkably, this is the third time Portsmouth have gone into administration in recent years. The club also went into administration in December 1998, prior to being taken over by the Serbian businessman Milan Mandaric.

Pompey then became the first Premier League side to enter administration in February 2010, following which they were relegated to the Championship.

Going into administration for a second time in such a short period was "disappointing" but the only way the club could go forward, according to Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt.

"By going into administration other opportunities will come up for investors, who would have been reluctant to buy the club with a winding-up order hanging over it," she said.

Earlier this week it emerged 
Portsmouth had received their parachute payment from the Premier League early, however, chief executive David Lampitt told BBC Radio Solent it would be up to the administrator how money in Pompey's bank account - understood to be around £2.5m - is spent.