Doubts continue to surround UAE property developer Sulaiman Al-Fahim’s proposed Pompey takeover, even as it edges towards apparent completion.

On Tuesday, the Premier League issued a very cagey statement announcing that “based on the information provided, (we) have found no reason why Mr Al-Fahim would be disqualified as a director.”

This has been interpreted by some as the completion of the takeover. But, although the league have “advised Portsmouth that his appointment (as Pompey chairman) may proceed”, investigations into the deal’s finances are still understood to be on-going.

Reports have emerged that Standard Bank have demanded immediate repayment of £36m they loaned the club to help fund owner Alexandre ‘Sacha’ Gaydamak’s regime, money originally due for repayment in two tranches, on August 31 and September 12. It is understood Al-Fahim asked the Premier League to “fast-track” their fit and proper persons investigations to allow him to meet the bank’s new, July 24, deadline. The League’s announcement that Al-Fahim can become chairman is seen by sources as their response to the request. Conflicting reports from various media sources have been a feature of this tale, with this week no different.

After insisting that completion of ‘due diligence’ was the final significant hurdle to overcome, Al-Fahim’s ubiquitous spokesman, Ivo Ilic Gabara, this week declared a “final commercial assessment” was being undertaken before Al-Fahim and still-current owner Gaydamak could “negotiate a final price.”

Gaydamak’s desire for a financial “clean” break has been a sticking point, especially after a number of Al-Fahim’s initial financial backers were reportedly “scared off” by the “fit and proper persons” procedures. It is understood that a more complex purchase agreement than initially envisaged has had to be drawn up, allowing Gaydamak to benefit from the proceeds of Peter Crouch’s imminent transfer and from future TV rights revenues. Gaydamak is to remain a director, reportedly until these payments issues are resolved. Club spokesman Gary Double denied this, saying Gaydamak’s continued presence was “like when Sacha bought the club from Milan Mandaric.” But alert observers immediately countered that Mandaric remained co-owner throughout the short period he remained a director after Gaydamak’s arrival.

The inevitable David Villa and Samuel Eto’o have been named. And Al-Fahim has a business link with Remigio Martin Maradona, Diego’s cousin. But a reader’s dismissive comment that Maradona “has got a sniff of the money” has a certain resonance.

In the more real world, Paul Hart has signed a two-year deal to become manager. One of his first acts will be overseeing striker Peter Crouch’s transfer, accepted as near-inevitable even though a proposed move to Sunderland fell through. Pompey began their pre-season campaign with a 2-2 draw at non-league Havant thanks to a brace from former Nottingham Forest midfielder Eugen Bopp.