Portsmouth have been deducted nine points by the EPL, condemning them to almost-certain relegation despite recently gaining ground on relegation rivals.   After last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 victory over fellow-strugglers Hull, there was even talk of overcoming the points deduction and staying up.   However, that was stopped abruptly by Chelsea’s 5-0 win at Fratton Park this midweek.   Bad news, too, for midfielder Jamie O’Hara, tipped by many to be Pompey’s player-of-the-year,   The 23-year-old will miss out on an FA Cup semi-final appearance as Pompey’s Wembley opponents are Tottenham, from whom O’Hara is on-loan.

With Portsmouth all-but-relegated, the football authorities have taken a more relaxed view of the cash-strapped south coast outfit’s ideas for raising short-term finances.

The club will be allowed to sell players outside the transfer window, on condition that those players do not for another EPL side this season.

The EPL have, however, fined Pompey for breaches of their regulations this season, including late payments of players and transfer fees. The fine, up to £1m, will be paid out of Portsmouth’s share of broadcast income.

There is as yet, though, no clue as to the identity of the club’s new owners.

Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise (HMRC) dropped objections to Pompey’s administration, particularly to the appointment of UHY Hacker Young as administrators, a firm with indirect business links to Chainrai’s Portpin Services company.

But interest in the club has only been publicly expressed by “property and horse racing entrepreneur” Rob Lloyd. Almost immediately and almost inevitably, questions were raised about Lloyd’s ability to fund a bid for the club and its on-going commitments.

At which point Lloyd claimed he was merely a front for a “UK-based private equity investor” who did not wish to be identified until due diligence into the club’s affairs had been undertaken.

This, in itself, was not unusual, but given the concerns over the (non)-identities of previous club owners, it was one greeted with scepticism.

Pompey have taken drastic short-term measures to deal with current financial problems. French striker Aruna Dindane would cost the club £4m if he played another game, under the terms of his contract.

So despite seven goals in 20 appearances, he was left out against Hull and will probably return to his French parent club Lens.

And players and staff have chipped in to cover the wages of four training ground staff, including popular groundsman Tug Wilson, who otherwise faced redundancy.

Meanwhile, former club chief executive Peter Storrie gave his version of recent events to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The interview included the startling revelation that, on top of two six-figure bonuses and a £600,000-per-annum basic salary, since 2008, Storrie was also entitled to the same £3,000 win bonuses as the players.

Storrie explained: “I had a big, big role on the football side.” The interview was not published on April 1^st.