Poor ol' pompey...could we help them out? Anything here?

[spencer 1970 214]

Portsmouth cannot afford to keep any of their eight contracted players - Tal Ben Haim, Greg Halford, Erik Huseklepp, Dave Kitson, Liam Lawrence, David Norris, Luke Varney, Kanu.

Maybe Halford, but we are ok on RBs now?

[spencer 1970 214]

the full story...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18958234

[ncfcstar 342]

I don''t want any of those money grabbing ''people'' anywhere near our club.  Tal Ben Haim is an absolute disgrace, likewise Kanu.  I know it is not their fault that they got offered such lucrative contracts, but at the end of the day they may as well cut their losses because they will never get the full payment on those contracts.  Instead they are happy to just sit there and wait until the club goes bust.  Disgusting.

[Fromage Frais 14]

I assumed that as they have contracts the administrator could end these contracts to preserve the business as a going concern.

I always thought it unlikely that millionaire players would be on PAYE but rather as contractors or some form of holding company.

This latest bit of press it to try and get those players under public pressure to take a hit so the new owner can buy the club.

On one side thats not great but then on the other they obviously got paid in excess of their market value as nobody has come in for them.

Just shows the crazy economics of football Kanu was on 80k a week when Portsmouth played City last season (and probably still is)......nuts

[lappinitup 629]

I wonder how their season ticket sales are going? [^o)]

[crabbycanary 2]

I wouldn''t mind Norris here. He could be used before a game, tied to a goalpost, (with his hands pointing up in a crossed/handcuffed position) whilst our lot practice precision shooting

[AJ 1,359]

Re: Kanu and Ben Haim, the club owe them MILLIONS, there''s no way they''d work away from money they rightfully are owed.

If it was not much money, I imagine they would waive it, but they''ve earnt it and are entitled to it. In the same position I doubt you''d just walk away. It''s not their fault the club has been poorly run and fallen into the position they are in now.

[Old Shuck 291]

Liam Lawrence is decent enough, did well for Sunderland and Stoke in the Prem as an attacking RM who can get a few goals.

 

30''ish now mind, so no resale value. Known best for his long throws but a good enough player.

[Jacko 0]

Not saying he is the right player for us but Halford for me is the pick of what is left there. Seems to have settled into the centre back position after being a right back for most of his earlier days. 27 years old so should be approaching his peak now. Would be a decent addition for a Championship side. After he left Colchester in 2007 I think people believed he would have the ability to kick on and become an established Premiership player. So he has been slightly disappointing since then but he still has time on his side.

 

As for Ben Haim its a tricky situation. A lot of us live near or on the breadline so some will find it hard to sympathise with someone earning £36k a week if they are asked to take a deferral or tear up their contract. But what you do need to remember is that people plan and build up a lifestyle in anticipation of money, which whatever you think, they are legally entitled to. So it will cause issues for them if they are not being paid. But Ben Haim would be stupid not to take a deferral or settlement for a number of reasons. Firstly the bad will it would cause would not do his reputation any favours. But also from a personal perspective if Portsmouth fold in the next week he will only get a fraction of the money he is entitled to. Whereas if Portsmouth can get back on their feet he may still receive the money he is due but instead it can be spread out over a 6 or 7 year period. Not ideal but better than getting nothing.

[paul moy 235]

They will inevitably shut down the business, set up a new company and continue as Rangers have done under a new Ltd company. The players will lose their money and jobs unless the new company wants them.  

As far as players operating under their own limited company is concerned, this should be illegal. Under IR35 for over a decade, IT contractors (I was one) have had to operate under PAYE within their own Limited companies if a contract is deemed to have characteristics of  permanent employment (eg: working for one client rather than two or more) . 

Personally, I''ve always believed that if you are at the same company/client for a year or more then you are effectively a permanent employee and should be forced to operate accordingly and pay full NI and Income Tax. That means the BBC and it''s workers would not get away with avoiding tax in the way it has done for years.  It was the Labour government in 1997 that brought in IR35 but funnily enough exempted Lawyers (Blair''s wife is one), Accountants etc.

[paul moy 235]

[quote user="paul moy"]

They will inevitably shut down the business, set up a new company and continue as Rangers have done under a new Ltd company. The players will lose their money and jobs unless the new company wants them.  

As far as players operating under their own limited company is concerned, this should be illegal. Under IR35 for over a decade, IT contractors (I was one) have had to operate under PAYE within their own Limited companies if a contract is deemed to have characteristics of  permanent employment (eg: working for one client rather than two or more) . 

Personally, I''ve always believed that if you are at the same company/client for a year or more then you are effectively a permanent employee and should be forced to operate accordingly and pay full NI and Income Tax. That means the BBC and it''s workers would not get away with avoiding tax in the way it has done for years.  It was the Labour government in 1997 that brought in IR35 but funnily enough exempted Lawyers (Blair''s wife is one), Accountants etc.

[/quote]

Ooops.... * its workers.... and should also have said ''working for one or more clients ''simultaneously'' (ie: during a short time period...weekly/monthly)''.