By TRAVIS CLARK
Over in England this morning, Portsmouth managed to make the wrong kind of history. They became the first Premier League club to enter administration in the league's history when another buyer wasn't found by Thursday's deadline.
The club has struggled with debt and a revolving door of ownership this season. Their debts are estimated in the range of £60-70 million, and four different people have owned the club since the beginning of the 2009-10 season. Financial control of the club will go over to an administrator who will attempt to stop the financial bleeding.
Going into administration also means that Portsmouth will be relegated to the Championship barring a miracle — they'll be deducted nine points prior to the season's end, but will be able to play out the rest of this season. Peter Storrie, the club's chairman, is expected to step down as the club tries to cut costs and remain a viable business heading into next season.
Here are a few other stories for Friday:
ARSENAL CUTS DEBT BY ALMOST FORTY PERCENT
From a tale of financial woe to one of success in the Premier League. Thanks to an upturn in sales of the Highbury Square property (the old stadium was converted into an apartment complex) Arsenal has managed to cut debt down to just over £200 million — nearly forty percent of the club's debt. Along with the debt reduction, the North London club also announced a profit of £32.5 million in six months prior to the end of November 2009.
VAN DER SAR SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH UNITED
Speculation over who Manchester United's future will be can be put on hold for at least one more season. Edwin van der Sar signed a one-year deal that will keep him with the club through the 2010-11 season. The Dutch netminder turns 40 in October and has shown little signs of slowing down this season as United attempt to hunt down Chelsea and win a fourth straight Premier League title.
CHESTER CITY EXPELLED FROM FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
If Pompey's money problems were bad, at least they still have a league to play in. The same can't be said for Chester City, a club that was previously in Blue Square Conference, the fifth tier of English soccer. Chester faces a winding up order and the rest of the league voted to expel the club from the Football Conference immediately.
ADEBAYOR BANNED FOUR MATCHES
Emmanuel Adebayor found himself in hot water once again this week, getting sent off in Manchester City's 3-1 loss to Stoke in the FA Cup. Thanks to Adebayor's previous run-in with discipline this season — when he stamped on Robin van Persie's face — an extra game was added to his suspension, and the Togolese striker will serve a four-match ban.
LIVERPOOL SUFFERS SKRTEL BLOW
Thursday's Europe League win came at a price for Liverpool — it was revealed that defender Martin Skrtel suffered a broken metatarsal in the club's 3-1 win against Unirea Urziceni. Rafa Benitez's defensive options are even more limited with Glen Johnson still on the mend from a knee injury earlier in the season.
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What will happen to Portsmouth? Is Arsenal's stability a good sign for the English game? When will van der Sar retire?
Share your thoughts below.