09.03.2010
Pompey administrator says FA Cup spot safe
Portsmouth players celebrate their victory after winning The FA Cup against Cardiff City in 2008.
Andrew Andronikou, the administrator of cash-strapped crisis club Portsmouth, insisted Tuesday there was no danger of the south coast side being kicked out of this season's FA Cup.
Portsmouth, who won the FA Cup in 2008, reached the semi-finals after beating Premier League rivals Birmingham City 2-0 at Fratton Park last weekend and are set to face the winners of the all-London quarter-final replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in the last four at Wembley.
However, Football Association rules state that clubs who enter administration will have their participation in the FA Cup re-assessed.
But Andronikou said: "The FA are fully supportive of us and they want us to succeed and get to the other end.
"There is no chance of us being kicked out of the FA Cup."
Were Portsmouth to reach the final they would, in normal circumstances, be in line for a place in next season's Europa League.
But they did not apply for the required UEFA club licence for next year by the March 1 deadline.
Althhough retrospective applications can be submitted, Portsmouth's precarious financial position means it is unlikely European football's governing body would grant them a licence.
Andronikou though was unconcerned: "Let's get into Europe first and then worry about the club licence."
Portsmouth are bottom of the Premier League and facing the prospect of a points deduction that would make their relegation from English football's top-flight all but certain.
They are due to return to the High Court on March 15 to answer a winding-up order brought by British tax authorities.
If a judge decides Portsmouth cannot overcome debts said to be totalling 76 million pounds (115 million dollars) they could be liquidated and go out of business completely.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Adrian Dennis
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