[DEZEEUW]

Abramovich you know, and maybe he makes you uneasy, but Michael Cherney? Does that name mean anything to anyone? It would mean something to Roman Abrahmovic. And it would certainly mean something to Gaydamak, Pompey's new owner. Cherney is a major criminal from the former Soviet states, and a close friend of Gaydamak's father, another major criminal, with warrants out for his arrest on drug smuggling and gun running charges. Both are in exile in Israel, which seems happy to harbour men with blood all over their hands. Cherney himself is thought to be wanted for a number of gangland murders, and yet this man is a multi-millionaire and until recently had a controlling interest in Levski Sofia. Yes, the same club who were in Champions League action last night. It may seem utterly unbelievable, but Cherney and Gaydamak snr are almost certainly the money men behind Portsmouth and funding Sol and David James's salaries. Now - you said you were worried about the influence of Abramovich on English football? Let me know what you think about Mr Cherney, someone lurking in the shadows but who may yet emerge to try and get a foothold over here. I like being near the top of the league, but not sure I like the way we have got there.

[Joe]

Never heard of this Cherney before.

You would need to provide a lot more information than you have to back these claims up.

[DEZEEUW]

Thanks for replying Joe. Good result for your boys last night. What do you make of Strachan by the way? Remember him playing for Leeds down at Pompey and he was the most passionate player I have ever seen, which every one down there always loves, so he got a lot of respect for that. Pompey are dreaming of Europe already, but I have been with them too long to dream of anything but survival!

Cherney is a notoriously bad boy out in the East - he was mixed up in the same conflicts over natural resources In Russia as Abramovich, which is how he made his millions, through Aluminium, and a lot of people were killed in the process. To be banned from Russia and Bulgaria - which he is, and information on this is openly available on the web - you have to be both bad and powerful. He is a close friend of Gaydamak - again, Cherney links himself to Gaydamak snr voluntarily through puff pieces published by the media outlets he owns, which he uses to push himself and Gaydamak as Israel-based 'philanthropists' - and the richer and more senior of the two. He is at the left hand of the man who is really behind Portsmouth. Research has already shown that Gaydamak jnr's companies did not make profits, left debts in fact, and could not have given him the money, by any means, he claims to have used to buy Pompey.

[Joe]

Abramaovich's history is cloudy at best. Mystery surrounds this man.

Pompey may have a similar beast in control of the club. To make money in Eastern Europe the way both of these new owners have you are going to have step on some toes. But I agree with you in so much that I wouldn't want someone like that running my club. You may have your hands full convincing Pompey fans though, with the success the side is having, I take it most will be happy about the new owners - would that be right?

It was a great result and Strachan is really starting to get a team together now. A few more faces and we will have a decent team and you are right, he is passionate and will give everything to the club.

[squid]

His past is obviously important as you wouldnt want criminals running you club. but even if he is legitimate i find it to be a bit of a scary thought that football clubs with hundreds of years of history and tradition that have shaped the personality of that club can bebought over and used as a hobby for some russion mafia sod.

The fans will certainly enjoy the money and the players, infact to most of them will love the money and the new players but what is the cost. The club existed for and because of the fans now the club will be able to live outside its opprating costs meaning that thier money and input into the club is less important.

Celtic is a plc partly owned and funded by the fans and i would have to say that i would be really concerned should one of these dodgy charactors show an interest in the club. In the same way that i understood the way man u fans felt when the club was sold to glazier.

[goldenHuddlestone]

Can I just say that probably most of this is libellous so it may be an idea to delete this

[DEZEEUW]

Apologies Huddlestone - probably a bit strong, though all of this is already in the public domain. Mr Cherney disputes a lot of it - he has even set up a 'Michael Cherney Foundation' and continued his tradition of getting close to politicians, including Tony Blair unbelievably, to give himself a veneer of respectability. He also owns newspapers which obviously paint him in a positive light to offset the facts of the past, ie he is indicted in Russia and was banned from Bulgaria. He is however the archetypal Bond villain - a public figure with a secret hideaway where he plots. Do you really want SMERSH getting hold of English football?
More importantly - are you going to let Pompey have Jermain Defoe if you don't want him? The crowd love Benjani, but he is a ten goals a season player, max, you never know about Lua-Lua, and while Cole is a natural, you have to wonder where his hunger will come from at this stage. David James, who I was always very doubtful about, has been fantastic for us so far, obviously motivated by Robinson's poor form in the World Cup. Maybe being a bigger fish in a smaller pond could do the same for Defoe?

[Joe]

There will be more information on this online, I will certainly have a look at it.

I don't think that Defoe would move from Spurs to Portsmouth, the team is not prestigous enough for him, but I do think that partsmouth have more than enough to stay up.