Pompey Supporters Trust

Pompey Supporters Trust
Abbreviation PST
Formation 23 December 2009[1]
Type Official Supporter's Club
Legal status Constitutional Supporters' trust
Purpose Represent the interests of Portsmouth F.C.
Headquarters Portsmouth
Membership
2,300[2]
Leader Ashley Brown
Affiliations Football Supporters' Federation, Supporters Direct
Website Official website

The Pompey Supporters Trust, or the PST, is a supporters' trust consisting of fans of Portsmouth F.C., an English professional football club. The prime role of the group is to represent the interests of Portsmouth F.C..

Since 2013, the Trust has also been the Club's majority owner.

History

Trust's first meeting was held in September 2009, after various people contacted supporters, talking about the possibility of starting a supporters' trust.[3] On 23 December, the PST was finally created.[1]

On 30 March 2012, after Portsmouth's successive relegations and administrations, the Trust launched a bid to try to buy the club, initially asking supporters to donate a minimum of £100.[4] In August, PST announced a new bid,[5] and also Members of the UK Parliament urged Balram Chainrai (Portsmouth's previous owner) to reach a deal with the Trust.[6] On 18 October, PKF administrator Trevor Birch announced that the Trust was named 'preferred bidders' ahead of Chainrai's Portpin.[7]

On 15 November, PST signed a conditional agreement with PKF, Portsmouth's administrators, to buy the club. The deal was delayed, however, due to Chainrai's refusal to reach an agreement to the sale of Fratton Park, the club's stadium.[8] Six days later, it was announced that the case would be decided at the High Court of Justice on 13 and 14 December.[9] On 14 December, the case was adjourned until 15 January 2013,[10] and was delayed for a further three times[11][12][13] until being set a deadline of 19 April 2013 on 21 February.[14]

On 9 April, the Court Case was confirmed to the following day, at 10.30am.[15] PST finally took over the club on the 10th,[16] appointing Ian McInnes as the club's chairman.[17]

A year after Portsmouth's takeover, the Trust had 2,300 shareholders and raised around £2.5m through individual pledges of £1,000.[2] On 29 September 2014, after almost 18 months in charge, PST declared that Pompey was debt-free after paying back all creditors and legacy payments to ex-players.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Shepherds Crook and the PST". Shepherds Crook. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Portsmouth: Pompey Supporters' Trust 'proud' of first year". BBC Sport. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  3. "All about the Pompey Supporters Trust". Vital Football. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  4. "Pompey fans launch bid to buy the club". Portsmouth News. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  5. "Pompey Supporters' Trust announce new bid". Sports Industry. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. "MPs call for Pompey sale to supporters' trust". Portsmouth News. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. "Pompey Supporters' Trust named preferred bidders". Portsmouth News. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  8. "Portsmouth set to be sold to Pompey Supporters' Trust". BBC Sport. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  9. "Portsmouth: Fratton Park hearing at High Court on 13-14 December". BBC Sport. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  10. "Portsmouth: High Court case adjourned until 15 January". BBC Sport. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  11. "Portsmouth's High Court hearing adjourned a second time". BBC Sport. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  12. "Portsmouth: High Court hearing adjourned for third time". BBC Sport. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  13. "Portsmouth's High Court hearing is adjourned again". BBC Sport. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  14. "Portsmouth Football Club set 19 April court deadline". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  15. "Portsmouth High Court date finally set for 10 April". BBC Sport. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  16. "Tears as Portsmouth fans reclaim football club". BBC. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  17. "Portsmouth chairman Iain McInnes hails new era for club". BBC Sport. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  18. "Portsmouth now debt-free following Supporters Trust takeover". BBC Sport. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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