Portsmouth League Two champions

Portsmouth leave league two in style, with a win and draws elsewhere that mean they become champions:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39753910

It has been a long haul for Portsmouth, four years in the division.  A couple of seasons fighting relegation.  For the first couple of years they suffered from the problem of drawing from the ranks of their own ex-pros as managers.  People like Awford and Whittingham - total club heroes, but never good enough as managers.

Paul Cook at first seemed an unlikely guy - I don't know what he's got, but he has delivered the best win rate since Redknapp.  The club feels very different to the overspending days of Redknapp and co. - Money flying out on unsustainable signings and wages, something Portsmouth paid a heavy price for and those responsible never really held accountable for their misconduct.

But we could be going back there with the Eisner bid - I don't think they can turn down the bid, but why on earth does this guy want to buy a lower league football club?

FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur 0 - Portsmouth 2

Amazingly Portsmouth nullified Tottenham over 90 minutes and then take the lead in extra time, sealing things with a penalty.

And well deserved too, hanging on at times Tottenham never made the most of their openings, and Portsmouth made the most of theirs.

Not a result that I could predict, I thought this would be the end of the road. The now relegated team get another trip to Wembley. A nice way for this team to sign off before returning to the championship with a much depleted squad - probably not to return or repeat this achievement again.

Also nice to see Redknapp beaten, I don't blame him for the club's plight but this is a pretty sweet victory. Manager Avram Grant and the team deserve this moment.

Burnley 1 Portsmouth 2

Not that I want to be a result service, but every cloud has a silver lining. An away win in the most difficult of times. Part of me wants to believe the "doing it for the fans" mantra that is often trotted out in times of crisis - but I suppose the players also realise this a shop window now, so had better start playing to attract interest.

That's a little unfair I know, the performances have been ok this year but results have been lacking.

Portsmouth in Administration

Not the most earth shattering news but Portsmouth went into Administration today. Not complete winding up, but now the process of finding a buyer and losing league table points await.

Hard to see any positives here - except another Pompey first - the first club to go out of business in the top flight. How did it ever come to this?

FA Cup: Southampton 1 - Portsmouth 4

In a rare win Portsmouth move toward the quarter finals, or to bankruptcy who knows.

A good game, Southampton were better than the scoreline suggests - Portsmouth relied on breaking and scoring goals.

The teams rarely meet so a bit of history too, Portsmouth have had the better of the FA cup ties.

Man Utd 5 Portsmouth 0

I would never have expected great things of them here, even if times were good. But 5-0 is pretty hard, especially with your own side scoring 3 times!

The FA cup tie cannot come soon enough.

FA Cup draw 5th round

A great draw Southampton vs Portsmouth. They have played in recent years in the cup but to happen again so soon is interesting.

This really could be a fitting end for Portsmouth, the last game against their greatest rivals - before having to reform in the non league after bankruptcy.

Portsmouth Collapse Close?

Well the debts are still unpaid, owing the taxman, other clubs on previous transfer fees and worst of all now Sol Campbell!

I cannot see how they are going to get out of this, it is just dragging on too long - if they had the money they would have paid up.

A sad end to a relatively succesful last 10 years.

Paul Hart fired as Portmouth Manager

I feel I ought to track this, fired today Portsmouth get through another manager.

Probably should have seen this coming, Avram Grant in the wings as director of football. Hart had a tough time with most of the squad getting sold off in the summer, and all the financial uncertainty.

Still performances had been good, results poor - premiership survival hangs in the balance.

Portsmouth Seven In a Row

Make that seven, beaten by Everton at home.

Wolves next, surely not eight?

Portsmouth Six In a Row

Well a new premier league record, six defeats on the trot. Not the kind of record you want, but one that will probably stand for a very long time!

A couple of the games have been close, and a little unlucky but you cannot help thinking the old adage of losing becoming a habit, and they've got the habit.

Championship football here we come.

Portsmouth already relegated?

Perhaps that is a little over pessimistic - and no matter what team they fielded of recent years Arsenal would always beat them (maybe not 4-1 as they did yesterday).

But it does feel their time in the premiership is coming to an end, I cannot complain though it has been a good ride. In truth it was probably more fun getting there than actually being there - where unless you can match the spending of top clubs your only hope each year is to survive.

They are facing difficult finances, and this begs the question where has all the money gone? Not a well run club or one with a sustainable future, it was always going to end this way.

Tony Adams fired as Portsmouth manager

Also Scolari was fired from Chelsea today, they are in a disastrous fourth position in the Premier league (!)

But the history books will say that Adams had a short stay at Portsmouth. I feel he was unlucky and I would have liked to see him do well. Definitely a guy who has fought his demons and come through it.

My only doubts about him would have been future signings and attracting players - but he never got the chance at 16 games.

Portsmouth out of the FA cup

Beaten 2-0 at home by Swansea City. The holders are out of the cup, what a difference a year can make.