Portsmouth can’t be allowed to go bust, says West Ham’s David Gold

• Premier League clubs ‘must take responsibility’, says Gold
• ‘We have allowed Portsmouth to get into this mess’

West Ham’s co-owner David Gold has claimed the Premier League “must take responsibility” and ensure Portsmouth do not go out of business.

Last Wednesday Portsmouth were granted extra time to fight a winding-up petition from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. The Premier League’s bottom club were given seven days to produce a statement of affairs to HMRC to detail their exact financial position.

HMRC claim Pompey owe them more than £11m in total. A figure of £7.4m of VAT is included in the winding-up petition, which Portsmouth are disputing. The former owner Alexandre Gaydamak claims to be owed £28m and the ex-Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is suing for £1.7m.

If Portsmouth were closed down, the Premier League would be reduced to 19 teams and their results would be wiped out, giving the table a new look.

“Anything that impacts on the integrity of the Premier League has to be addressed and if a club go bust, all the points are wiped out, giving an advantage to some clubs and a disadvantage to others,” Gold told the Mail on Sunday.

“That can’t be right. For that reason, you have an obligation to save a football club. We have allowed Portsmouth to get into this mess. The brand is 20 Premier League football clubs. We must take responsibility.”

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West Ham fined £115,000 for fan violence against Millwall

• West Ham have 14 days to appeal £115,000 fine
• Club found guilty of breaching FA rules for Carling Cup tie

West Ham United have been fined £115,000 by an independent regulatory commission for the crowd trouble that marred August’s Carling Cup tie against London rivals Millwall at Upton Park.

The east London club were found guilty of breaching Football Association rules on an evening when a 43-year-old Millwall fan was stabbed and police made 64 arrests. Millwall were cleared of all charges.

An FA statement read: “The club has been fined £115,000 and ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5,000 for the failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and the failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play.”

West Ham have 14 days in which to appeal the decision, and have indicated they may do so after they receive “comprehensive details” of the judgment.

Premier LeagueThe FAWest Ham UnitedMillwallJamie JacksonMatt Scottguardian.co.uk

West Ham recall Freddie Sears from Crystal Palace

• Upton Park striker could return before the weekend
• Palace happy for season-long loan to be cut short

West Ham United hope to release Freddie Sears from his season-long loan at Crystal Palace before the weekend. The 20-year-old striker is required at Upton Park following the premature retirement of Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole’s knee injury.

Palace, the Premier and Football Leagues are thought to be amenable to the recall, with the move now depending on the player registration forms being completed.

Premier LeagueWest Ham UnitedJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk