Portsmouth crisis hits local clubs

The two clubs have joined a long list of creditors as Pompey, which has crippling debts of $194 million, slips into administration for the second time in two years after failing to find a new backer.

Should the clubs take their grievance to FIFA, the figure owed in training and compensation fees from six players, plus a cut of the transfer fee of Ryan Williams to Fulham last month, could rise to over $2 million as part of punitive measures on debtors imposed by the world governing body.

Joondalup is owed $73,000 per player for Australian under-17 internationals Andy Higgins and Alex Grant and Middlesbrough star Rhys Williams’s younger brother Ryan. Not to mention 20 percent of the fee paid by Fulham for 18-year-old Ryan, believed to be around $90,000.

Blacktown has been waiting impatiently for $220,000 in development fees for Billy Tsolovos, Jordan Fitzharris and under-17 international Patrick Antelmi, all of whom joined Portsmouth’s youth academy before turning professional.

“It's disappointing to say the least. We entered into the agreements in good faith and we have been waiting a long time and we haven't received a cent," ECU Joondalup academy chairman Steve Wheatley said.

“We are hoping to get our money because we budgeted a long time ago on using the cash to fund our new clubhouse and it if doesn't come through it presets a real problem to us.

“The money is already three years overdue. We will survive but it will be a matter of surviving rather than pushing on.”

Both clubs have advised Football Federation Australia of the situation and with the backing of the local governing body, both are willing to take the case to FIFA in pursuit of their claims.

Should FIFA find in their favour the value of each player would be set at a punishing $430,000.

Blacktown boss Ken Schembri said: "We haven't received anything yet for the players and the best offer we have had is an instalments package from Portsmouth.

“We are due a payment at the end of the month. It will be interesting to see if we receive it or not.

“When the players turned professional we were entitled to £50,000 ($A73,000) per player but the club has reneged on that because it is in trouble.

“We have the option of going through FFA to FIFA for compensation. Right now, we are still talking to Portsmouth and we are obviously the little fish a long way away.

“They haven't paid their own players let alone us. It's a bad situation for all concerned. We develop these players and as yet have ended up with nothing.”

Portsmouth, which last week was given a seven-day stay of execution after getting more time to fight a winding-up petition, was brought to the brink after being taken to court by Britain's Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill of $2.5 million.

It officially was placed in the hands of the administrator on Friday.

The 2008 and 2010 FA Cup finalist is in 17th spot in the Championship and with a mandatory 10-point deduction looming, faces a difficult task to stay up.