ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE/Fulham 1 Portsmouth 0:PORTSMOUTH'S troubled season took another dramatic twist last night when Balram Chainrai seized control of the club from Ali al-Faraj, effectively making the Hong Kong businessman the fourth owner at Fratton Park this season, following Sacha Gaydamak, Sulaiman al-Fahim and Faraj.
Chainrai has taken over the 90 per cent shareholding in Portsmouth that was held by Faraj after becoming frustrated that the club had missed deadlines to repay money he was due for substantial loans he gave to them earlier this season.
Chainrai had loaned at least €19.5 million to Faraj to keep Portsmouth afloat through Portpin, the company he owns with his Israeli business partner, Levi Kushnir, and their associates.
Those loans were secured against the stadium, the club’s future tv revenue and Faraj’s 90 per cent share. Angered by Portsmouth’s failure to make repayments on the finance, despite Portpin continually extending the deadlines, Chainrai’s patience ran out yesterday, and he instructed his lawyers to act.
It is understood Faraj may have to instigate court proceedings if he wishes to challenge the move.
Last night Chainrai said: “Portpin have made substantial loans to Portsmouth to try and ensure the club’s future. Portpin will [now] continue to work for the best interests of the club.”
And on the pitch the club’s misery continued as Jonathan Greening’s first goal for Fulham condemned them to another defeat in last night’s league clash at Craven Cottage to leave them well adrift at the foot of the table.
Manager Avram Grant has, though, vowed to stick with the beleaguered club.
Indeed, Portsmouth had shown an improvement following the return of their African Nations Cup trio, and Kevin Prince Boateng had a couple of chances in the first half. However, after a terrible miss from Fulham’s on-loan striker Stefano Okaka, making his debut, Fulham got the breakthrough with 16 minutes left as Greening netted at the far post.
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Kelly (Dikgacoi 55), Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Baird, Greening, Okaka Chuka (Nevland 70), Zamora (Elm 77). Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Riise, Stoor, Smalling.
PORTSMOUTH: James, Finnan, Wilson, Ben-Haim, Belhadj, Yebda, Basinas (Owusu-Abeyie 82), Boateng, O’Hara, Dindane, Piquionne (Webber 62). Subs not used: Ashdown, Rocha, Mullins, Vanden Borre, Hughes. Booked: Ben-Haim.
Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).
Att: 21,934
