Al Fahim´s Portsmouth bid ´going ahead´: spokesman

June 16, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – A bid to take over Premier League club Portsmouth by an Abu Dhabi investor is set to go ahead, a spokesman for the billionaire buyer was reported as saying on Monday.

Sulaiman Al Fahim has provided documentation showing his offer meets requirements set by the Premier League, a spokesman for Al Fahim told BBC sport.

Last month Fahim said he had agreed in principle to the deal after meeting Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie in Rome.

However premiership officials expressed doubts, notably about Fahim’s role in the Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover of Manchester City in September. The same investor is not allowed to have a controlling interest in more than one club, according to League rules.

The only party involved in the take-over bid is Fahim’s company “Al Fahim Asia Associates,” the spokesman insisted.

Current owner Alexandre Gaydamak has reportedly accepted an offer of around 60 million pounds from the property billionaire.

Earlier this year, 32-year-old Al Fahim was reported to have inquired about buying Chelsea from Roman Abramovich as part of a consortium believed to have bid more than 700 million pounds.

But he eventually settled on Portsmouth and plans to overhaul the Fratton Park club, who finished 14th in the Premier League this season, a year after winning the FA Cup.

Fans in Portsmouth are keen to see a new owner inject funds into the club which got through three managers – Harry Redknapp, Tony Adams and Paul Hart – for much of the season, while star players Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra were sold.

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