Sol Campbell is suing Portsmouth for £1.7 million of unpaid image-rights fees and bonuses he claims he is owed.
The Arsenal defender has issued a writ against his former employers, which threatens to worsen the club’s already dire financial situation. Portsmouth confirmed receipt of the writ this morning. “The matter is being dealt with by our lawyers,” a club spokesman said.
The development comes 24 hours after the troubled Premier League club failed in an attempt to have a winding-up order, issued by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, thrown out.
The case, which could force Portsmouth into administration, will be heard on February 10, although the club have already said they will appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth chief executive, is due in court today over an allegation he cheated the public revenue over the signing-on fee for a midfielder. Storrie, 57, has a plea and case management hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London.
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It is alleged that between July 1, 2003 and November 28, 2007 he “cheated the public revenue” over a signing-on fee for Amdy Faye from Auxerre to Portsmouth.
Storrie has said he will defend himself in the “strongest possible terms” against the charge.