New funds available for ground improvements
Pompey have been given a cash boost by the club’s president investors to enable them to bring Fratton Park up to scratch.
The group, which comprises individual Blues fans who have each put sums of more than £50,000 into the club, has raised a further significant six-figure sum to ensure long overdue safety work can be completed.
The club has been operating on a reduced capacity since the start of the season after Portsmouth City Council, the licensing authority, came up with a list of urgent improvements the club needs to undertake.
Chief executive Mark Catlin said: “These works are the legacy of the past few years where work to keep the ground up to scratch was allowed to lapse. It is essential work, but the money to do it is not in our current budget.
“The news the presidents are prepared to invest this money now is hugely welcome. We can now put in place a rolling programme of works, starting this month, which will hopefully see our capacity restored to around 20,000 for next season.”
The works scheduled include:
- Installation of a sprinkler system in the North and South Stands
- Upgraded electrical systems around the stadium
- New disabled viewing facility in north east corner
- Improved stairwell access to North Stand G Section
In addition there will be a series of other essential repairs, including fixing long-standing leaks in the South Stand roofs.