HISTORY

Recent troubles to befall Portsmouth FC have been well-documented as a symptom of football's burning issue. It has been seen at non-league level, but Pompey go down in history as the first Premier League club to call in the adminstrators after a near-farcical chain of events off the field that left the Hampshire club unsure of who owned them and millions of pounds in debt. A CVA came to help the club rebuild for a future in the Coca Cola Championship.

The South Coast club has fallen a long way; it might not seem like it, but to go from leading Milan at Fratton Park to opening their 2010/1 Carling Cup campaign at the Lamex Stadium is not something every Portsmouth fan may easily reconcile.

It certainly provided Boro' with the opportunity to enjoy a more-publicised start to life in the Football League. Welcome to the big time, eh? Portsmouth remain the superior of their South Coast rivals Southampton, but the Saints' promotion to the Championship in 2010/1 restored parity.

The two-division gap has been narrowed and Pompey cannot be guaranteed of retaining the bragging rights while there is still uncertainty hanging over them. If nothing else, Pompey can show Boro' that splashing the cash may bring you results in the short-term, but is not worth it when long-term doubts arrive.

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