Pompey bidder to stay secret
PORTSMOUTH have inched closer to having a fifth owner of the season – but the man fronting the bid insists his main backer is not ready to reveal his identity.
Property developer Rob Lloyd has been granted access to the crisis club’s books this week in order to carry out due diligence.
Lloyd says he has held several meetings with Pompey’s administrator Andrew Andronikou and has not ruled out putting his own money into a bid.
But he insists he will not disclose the name of the wealthy British-based individual whose cash is the driving force behind the interest.
“Until you are in a position where you can physically buy the club, knowing all the ramifications associated to this purchase, my client does not want to come in the front line – that’s why he has put me in this,” said Lloyd. “You mention a name then the press are all over you. People need to back off and let us get on with the job and let my client get into a position where we know what we’re actually buying. Once we have done that I see no reason why my client won’t come out in the public eye.”
Portsmouth have debts of around £80m and are near-certainties for relegation from the Premier League, having been docked nine points for entering administration.
The club has had four owners already this season.