Pompey Court Hearing: Update

Portsmouth's future as a Football League club will be decided by April 19, a High Court judge said today.

The npower League One side have been in administration for over a year and will be expelled from the League if they are not taken over before next season.

Today's hearing was supposed to confirm a date for the case for administrators PKF to attempt to gain permission to sell the club's Fratton Park ground, which is controlled by former owner Balram Chainrai's company Portpin.

The court has not confirmed a date but it is hoped that could be announced within the next few days.

Fans' group the Pompey Supporters Trust's bid to buy the stricken club hinges on being able to purchase the ground for around £2.65million.

A PKF statement read: ''We are pressing ahead with the case that is seeking the court's consent for the disposal of Fratton Park to the PST.

The court has this morning confirmed that the case will be heard by 19 April at the latest, which will enable us to meet the Football League's deadline for the sale of the club, subject to a favourable ruling.

We hope that, in the next few days, the court will be able to set a specific date for this hearing.''

The Football League have also said they will only consider the bid from the PST, having dismissed the latest rival offer from financier Keith Harris earlier this week.

But the case, which has already been adjourned four times, appears to have hit yet another sticking point over the League's stance.

The statement added: ''The court was also made aware that correspondence has been exchanged between the Football League and Portpin which seems to lead to some ambiguity with the League's previous public statements that no other bid would be considered at this late stage.

We will be seeking clarification from the League as a matter of urgency.''

Despite the latest twist, the PST remain confident they will be in charge of Portsmouth well before the deadline.

Spokesman Colin Farmery told Press Association Sport: ''That is a bit unexpected but this is Pompey after all, there is always something coming out of left field.

But from our discussions the Football League are quite clear they will only consider the bid from the PST.

It's hard to comment on as I have not seen the correspondence but the indications from the Football League, as recently as Monday, are that they are clear on that point.

At the end of the day we are pleased the court case is proceeding.

It needs to be heard by April 19 to meet the Football League's deadline and we are confident it will be sooner than that as this needs resolving as soon as possible.

The Football League say we cannot go into another season in administration and the judge realises time is of the essence. We hope we will be in control much sooner that that.

The PST's bid is the best one for the creditors and for the club, and means Fratton Park will be back under the ownership of Portsmouth Football Club.''

Portsmouth are currently bottom of League One and will be deducted 10 points if and when they exit administration.