Money fears 'threaten Premier League clubs'

Portsmouth fans face uncertain times for their club

The are fears that for the first time ever one of the English game's top flight clubs could go into administration.

Money troubles are nothing new in football.

In the lower leagues supporters at clubs like Leeds, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Luton all know what's it's like.

Clubs sell players, are docked points, face relegation and fans feel like they have to start all over again - although it's never happened in the top division of English football.

But now with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt floating around the league, wage bills going up and transfer fees going through the roof, that could be about to change.

One of the clubs most at risk is Portsmouth.

The players aren't getting paid on time, ex-players are suing the club for money they say is still owed to them and the tax man is demanding millions of pounds.

Taxi driver Sean has supported Pompey all his life.

He said: "These are dangerous times. We can't pay the players on time, which is just embarrassing."

Andy's a mechanic who works just opposite the ground and has his own ideas about how to solve the issues.

Portsmouth supporter Andy thinks the club should pay off its debt first

"Sell the players, get the money and pay the debt," he suggested. "The debts have got to be paid."

But it's not just fans of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth who have got worries.

Two hundred and fifty miles north and a club at the opposite end of the table, Manchester United, has been in the headlines, because recent accounts showed £716 million worth of debt.

Some fans think the level of debt is damaging the club and are protesting.

That debt cost more than £40 million in interest alone last year.

However, the top bosses at Manchester United say manager Sir Alex Ferguson has money to spend on new players if he wants, and the reported debts are a "misconception".

'Enormous problems'

Other clubs in the Premier League have debt too, including Liverpool and West Ham, where David Sullivan is the new co-owner.

He said: "I realise we're taking on a huge task and a club that's got enormous problems and it's going to take time to turn things around."

Clubs in the Scottish Premier League are suffering, especially after Setanta pulled out of its TV deal with the League.

Even the Prime Minister is getting involved.

He said: "There is an issue here for football supporters that, over the last few years, a number of football clubs have far higher levels of debt than the income they are able to generate from the footballing activities and the television activities.

"It's a worry to supporters and I think the management of football clubs have got to look very seriously at their responsibilities to their supporters."

Uefa President Michel Platini is working on plans to try to sort out the finances at top flight clubs.

The idea is that clubs would only be allowed to spend what they earn from things like gate receipts, TV deals and merchandising, or else they'd be banned from European competitions.