PAID-UP POMPEY SET TO PUSH ON
IT HAS been an arduous journey for Portsmouth to become a debt-free club – but Fratton Park manager Andy Awford says he is delighted to finally be able to look to the future.
Pompey have been in administration twice in the past five years on their infamous fall from the Premier League to the basement division, but announced on Monday that they have now paid off all their legacy debts.
And Awford claims that finally being in the same position as other League Two clubs makes a huge difference to their prospects.
“I’m absolutely delighted, fair play to everybody involved,” said Awford.
“It’s been a long haul, we’ve eventually got there and it’s nice to be on a levelplaying field with everybody else.
“We had dispensation off the Football League in the summer to sign Nigel Atangana and James Dunne, but now we don’t need to ask.
“If there is a fee and it’s within budget we are in the same market as everybody else.We don’t need to go cap in hand to the Football League.”
Portsmouth are now able to sign players without preapproval from the Football League, which has raised hopes of a spending spree come January to aid their promotion push.
But chief executive Mark Catlin is adamant that the club will learn from past mistakes and continue spending within their means.
“Previously we were under the Football League’s microscope – that is now over and we can operate like everyone else,” said Catlin.
“Atangana and Dunne were signed as the Football League were pleased with the management of our club.
“We will continue to sign the right player should he come up for the right money, but we will not take a hire purchase approach again.
“We have applied sound business practices and got to this position financially by running a very tight ship. It is not our intention to start leaking water again.”