Football is only different because of the increased potential for the domino effect putting so many other clubs out of business. The rule that needs to be changed is how much transfer debt they are allowed to rack up and needs to be looked at by FIFA. Until then though, having other clubs as preferential creditors is the best answer to a poor situation.

They may not get THAT money, but they'll continue to get money in from Portsmouth's future trading, and those of the other English clubs concerned. If Portsmouth went completely I very much doubt there'll be able to be a replacement for future revenue to HMRC. What I meant by them nearly always getting their money is that they will be around long enough to recoup it. Other clubs may not.

I never said it was right, I said it makes sense.

What would make sense would be for the footballing powers that be to scrap the ridiculous preferential creditors rule, and any club going into admin to be forced to find a suitable solution for all creditors, including HMRC (ie you and me the taxpayer).

Once one club were unable to do that and went bust there would have to be a sea change in how clubs were governed, which would prevent them running up these tax debts they couldn't pay in the future, and stop the country being cheated out of the tax revenues it is owed.

Ashley has already used all of his SportsDirect gift vouchers to bring Perch in, so can't see much more activity for us lot unless the players are available on loan or free transfer/pocket money sums.

You think the Football League would continue a team down for the rest of time?

What about the rest of the creditors? The window cleaners, et al. Who cares if they go bust as long as the football clubs are ok.

?

No. They'll simply promote from below. There'll be no new business entity created to make up the numbers though.



Who's said that then?

A CVA/Liquidation or the like always mean some suffer. All I'm saying is the logical thing to do is try to minimise the repurcussions. Making other football clubs and players preferential creditors is an attempt to do this.

I think people are perhaps only looking at this in terms of the high end of football and having their view biased by the obscene amounts of money and the rich seemingly getting looked after. The thing is, if you look at how lower-league clubs can be affected by situations like this, the current practice could be a godsend.

I bet Pompeys tax return is bang on time for the next year because hmrc will be
very hot on late returns

Sergi Samper - remember the name. That lad is going to be one hell of a player.

Norwich 2 Watford 3, full time. A pretty entertaining start to the season, hopefully more of the same to come.

Five goals sounds great value. What more do you want?

cash + Ireland in a deal valued at £27.5m for James Milner.

genius business by Villa, I rate Milner but that is mental, Ireland is a cracking player

He's fallen out of favour a bit at City of late but I reckon O'Neill could get him back to some consistency.

12 months ago the notion that City would exchange Ireland for Milner and pay a significant fee on top would have been laughable.

Its quite possible that O'Neill will revitalise his career but probably only if he adapts Villa's playing style to suit Ireland. Ireland was a cracking player two years ago playing in a 4-5-1 with a mandate to get forward as much as possible. But he really struggled last year when we switched to a 4-4-2 and he was asked to play a deeper, more disciplined role. Which, considering he'd played all of his junior football in that role, was hard to understand.

It was clear last year that Ireland coudn't play in the same team as Tevez. It will be interesting to see how he fits into Villa's team, particularly whether him and Agbonlahor can gel.

Seems like Elmander has finally worked out where the goal is. Another pre-season goal against Osasuna last night.

I hope to be proved wrong but I'm sure once the regular season starts, normal (lack of) service will be resumed.

Sounds Catalan. Has he signed for you men?

So the clubs being moved up won't increase their respective turnovers to match Portsmouths? Nothing would be lost in that respect with Portsmouth going out of business.



Well you seem quite happy for other businesses to lose money as long as the football clubs are ok.



It minimises the repercussions for football clubs, and that is all.



For football clubs. Everyone else can go swing.

Both these 2 comments shortsightedly see the clubs themselves as the only entities benefitting. The fact is, the clubs most likely have far more stakeholders than any of the other creditors.

I'll say it one more time as clearly as I can, as you seem to think I [ilike[/i the way things are: I don't think it's right that some people/business won't be getting all of their money owed (I can hugely sympathise, it's part of what I do for a living), however, I can see the sense in why football clubs are considered preferential creditors in order to prevent a house of cards effect.

Ireland's a better player than Milner.

I can't wait to see Milner flop, he is grossly overrated, like, it's disturbing how he is valued over £10m. Has many limitations for such a dear player, not sure where he'll end up playing, an average winger and a midfielder without playmaking/controlling abilities, or particularly great defensive discipline or positioning. Add to that you aren't getting great athleticism or a powerful, dominant figure, it's hard to see what exactly City see in him, other than his great stats in a very limited Villa side.

Sometimes, you see a signing that has dumb written allover it, this is definitely a dumb signing, in my opinion.

Ha, I wish. You got the Catalan bit right though, he plays for Barcelona Under 15's (not sure what the proper name of the team is).

You can't say I didn't try and tell you, Andy.

I see Strachan's experiment in how the old firm would get on in the English leagues didn't get off to the best of starts.

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8894651.stm13 of the England World Cup squad are left out for the Hungary friendly.[/url

It does seem that way doesnt it

Will he play Wilshere in midfield? I hope so.