Portsmouth's High Court hearing adjourned a second time

A High Court hearing to set the date to decide the future of Portsmouth Football Club has been adjourned for a second time, administrators have said.

The original hearing was adjourned because of an issue between administrators PKF and the property partner working with the supporters' group looking to buy the club.

A hearing due on Tuesday has now been put back to 31 January.

It follows a meeting between the various parties held last week.

Trevor Birch, PKF partner and joint administrator, said: "Following discussions last week, all parties agreed to ask the Court for an adjournment until 31 January.

"We have been informed that the judge has granted this request."

PKF have agreed to sell Portsmouth to the supporters' trust, PST, but it is conditional on the Trust taking control of Fratton Park.

The club's stadium is controlled by former owner Balram Chainrai.

PKF are attempting to force the sale of Fratton Park through the High Court but Chainrai - through his company Portpin - are fighting that sale.

The PST has offered Chainrai, who claims he is owed £12m by the club, £2.75m for the ground but he has refused to sell and values Fratton Park at about £9m.

If a judge agrees to force the sale of the ground then an independent valuation will be made.

The League One club - who are said to be £61m in debt - have been in administration since February 2012 and are facing a second-successive relegation.

Since the original hearing in December, property developer Stuart Robinson has resolved his issues with PKF and has also exchanged contracts to buy the land surrounding Fratton Park.

That land is seen as vital to the club's future and, if Robinson takes control of Fratton Park, it will finally allow the total redevelopment of the ground.