Portsmouth could become the second Premiership club to be owned by investors from the United Arab Emirates with the completion of a takeover led by Sulaiman-al-Fahim. The takeover was confirmed after the Premier League announced that Al-Fahim had become the first person to pass their new ‘fit and proper person’ test for club owners. He will become the club chairman, 31 years old, with a MBA and PhD from American business schools, he founded Hydra Properties in 2005. He is ranked 16th on the list of Most Powerful Arabs, playing a Sir Alan Sugar role in an Apprentice style show.
Portsmouth could become the second Premiership club to be owned by investors from the United Arab Emirates with the completion of a takeover led by Sulaiman-al-Fahim. The takeover was confirmed after the Premier League announced that Al-Fahim had become the first person to pass their new ‘fit and proper person’ test for club owners. He will become the club chairman, 31 years old, with a MBA and PhD from American business schools, he founded Hydra Properties in 2005. He is ranked 16th on the list of Most Powerful Arabs, playing a Sir Alan Sugar role in an Apprentice style show. Sporting interests for Hydra Properties include sponsoring Dubai sports television, a Costa Rican soccer team and the German Bundesliga. They are building a football academy in Abu Dhabi with Inter Milan.
So why Pompey? The south coast club lost £17m in 2007-8 and had to shelve plans for a spectacular new waterside stadium. The rather run down city with its pockets of poverty is certainly a contrast with the glamour and growth of the UAE. However, an opportunity presented itself at the right time. In a world where Sven Goran Eriksson can engage in serious talks about becoming Director of Football at League 2 Notts County, anything is possible once the cheque books are open.