MP's urge Chainrai to step aside.
Penny Mordaunt and Mike Hancock are backing the Pompey Supporters Trust.
Portsmouth MP's Penny Mordaunt and Mike Hancock have written to former Pompey owner Balram Chainrai and Levi Kushnir.
It's to urge Chainrai to step aside and allow the supporters trust to take over the blues.
The full letter reads:
Dear Levi and Balram,
We wanted to take the opportunity to write to you to ask you to accept the very good offer submitted to you by the Pompey Supporters Trust.
In your recent statement withdrawing your bid you accepted that there was little or no support for it. The decision to change the decision to withdraw has further diminished that support.
It will take many years of hard work in order for Portsmouth Football Club to prosper. The offer from the PST is a fair one reflecting both the value of the club and the hard work that it will take to rebuild its squad, academy and infrastructure. There is no short term fix, no magic wand.
You have spoken on many occasions of your reluctance to own Pompey. You have the perfect opportunity now to place the club into the best hands imaginable, those of the people who have supported it passionately for a lifetime.
We ask you to recognise and grasp this opportunity to demonstrate once and for all that you care for the club, and to walk away with a fair sum and your heads held high. You will always be able to say that when it came to the crunch you
kept your promise, to sell the club to the right people who would take the best possible care of it.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Mordaunt MP
Mike Hancock CBE MP
Meanwhile Pompey legends Paul Merson and Steve Claridge have declared their support for the Pompey Supporters’ Trust
Paul Merson joined the club in 2002 and became an instant fans’ favourite after helping secure promotion to the Premier League in an influential season. Steve Claridge is Portsmouth through-and-through, having been born in the City and making over 100 appearances for the club during his distinguished career.
Paul Merson said: "Pompey supporters were instrumental in our promotion to the Premier League back in 2003. With such a strong set of supporters, I have every faith Portsmouth FC would make a fine community club. This is why I’m backing the bid of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust to save Portsmouth FC”
Steve Claridge added: "My time at Pompey was one of the most memorable during my career. Particularly as I was born in the city, I already had a deep affection for the club and the two seasons I spent there will always mean a great deal to me. After years of instability and mismanagement, Pompey Supporters Trust have created a unique business plan to save the club and bring back PFC to the people who care so deeply for it and that's why I'm backing their bid.”
Colin Farmery, PST Spokesperson, concluded: "We are delighted to add both Paul and Steve to our growing list of supporters. Both players were idolised by Pompey fans during their time at the club and we hope that having the support of the two legends will continue to help increase the number of pledges to the Trust.”
The Trust’s core aim is to keep Portsmouth FC in existence as a club run by the fans, for the fans. It aims to bring the club back into the heart of the community and preserve it for generations to come. Fans can still back the bid by joining the share scheme by visiting www.communitypompey.co.uk.
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