Loyal Pompey fans work together to help trust takeover

Fans have been working hard to back the trust since it launched its share prospectus and signed exclusivity documents with administrators PKF.

Now loyal supporters behind the Pompey’s 12th Man website have devised ways all fans can get involved in the community takeover.

Supporters unable to afford a £1,000 share in the trust’s share scheme can buy part of a share for £25 through the website.

Fans can also buy Power to the People T-shirts – with all proceeds going towards the trust should it take over.

Their efforts have already raised more than £1,500 since going live on Saturday.

Pompey fan Mike Hall, who is one of the supporters behind the initiative, said: ‘The ordering has gone very well and we are hoping to massively increase that.

‘The T-shirts have been printed by local firm Brilens at a cost to them. Every penny of profit goes straight into the kitty.

‘We’re hoping we can make a substantial sum of money so that everyone who cannot afford a share can be a part of it.

‘We’ve had Pompey fans ordering from as far as New Zealand, Czech Republic, Japan, Sweden and Spain.’

Meanwhile, members of the trust and campaign group SOS Pompey last night brought out an old banner bearing the slogan Fit and Proper?, protesting against some of Pompey’s former owners.

The banner was first used during a protest march in January 2010 before a home tie with Sunderland.

But to mark the trust’s latest achievements, the question mark has been crossed off.

SOS Pompey’s Bob Beech said: ‘For me this finishes the circle. We’re back to where we started with the outcome we wanted.

‘It was a long, hard battle, and we finally have a board of directors with no question mark. Before there were more questions than answers.

‘The banner itself has a story of its own. It’s been around the country at fans’ protests. I want to see it hanging in the Pompey museum. This is a clean slate for everyone. There are some real disenfranchised fans out there, and I don’t blame a lot of them.

‘It doesn’t just start with the process over the last three years and I do hope the new board will work hard to win the trust of those fans.’