It might be easier to list what didn’t happen at Portsmouth during a season in which relegation from the EPL was inevitable and irrelevant in equal measure.

Not even the most outlandish script writer could put an FA Cup victory in the final scene, despite the luck that Pompey rode until they succumbed to Didier Drogba’s free-kick in the Wembley final.

The cash-strapped south coast outfit started the season woefully under-resourced on the pitch after the proposed takeover by UAE-based publicity-seeker Sulaiman Al-Fahim covered the whole close season.

 

Manager Paul Hart’s men lost their first seven games before their first win at Wolves. By then, Al-Fahim was in “charge.” But he didn’t have the finances to pay day-to-day bills, let alone fund a team rebuild.

He sold to a consortium of Israelis “fronted” by an Arab, Ali Al-Faraj, who no-one in football has yet met. But the money troubles remained.

Portsmouth picked up points after Hart was replaced by former Pompey director of football, Avram Grant, notably with a 2-0 win over Liverpool in December. But they were too-little, too-late.

Pompey’s demotion was all-but-confirmed by a nine-point deduction when their latest owner, Hong Kong-based businessman Balram Chainrai put them in administration in February. But their FA Cup progress provided increasing relief.

A fortunate extra-time victory at Coventry set up a run which included a memorable victory at arch-rivals Southampton.

And by the time they overcame Spurs in their Wembley semi-final, again in extra-time, they had the good wishes of the football world behind them.

Chelsea proved a step too far, however. And the future of the club remains in doubt after this most turbulent season.