The current plight of Portsmouth Football club is not something that any football fan would be happy about. Although it is tempting for Saints fans given the lack of sympathy from Pompey when we were days from liquidation in the summer of 2009.
I'm not a great fan of the hatred that some football fans exhibit toward each other. I want to see Pompey survive so that the mighty Saints can thrash them on the football pitch. I have always refused to sing the crude anthem about "shooting the Pompey scum" because football should be about entertainment rather than murder. And anyhow we have perfectly acceptable, family friendly song about sparrows with cow sized arses which can shit on the Pompey bastards below. Below.
However, the situation is there. Pompey may be going bust. And we Saints fans have to accept that in a mature and responsible way. Fortunately the very source of the doom of Portsmouth FC may be the saviour of the Saints fan's morale compass.
The Revenue. Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes. They have served the winding up order on Portsmouth FC. And there is the solution. For Portsmouth. And more importantly for Saints fans everywhere.
When you can't pay your taxes, there is occasionally the opportunity to gift your possessions in lieu of the tax. We often here of works or art being gifted to the nation as payment of taxes. So why not the whole club in this case?
Portsmouth FC could become the first nationalised football club. The whole of its assets - ground, players, the whole lot - could be gifted to the nation to pay its tax bill. And who better to manage the club for the nation but the National Trust.
And this is where it gets better and better for Saints fans. Fratton Park would have to be preserved as it now is. Obviously opening once a week during the season. There could be tours - coaches by arrangement, and let's face it, Pompey having a coach would need some arranging.
Of course, there would be some benefit for Pompey fans too. No National Trust property would be without a decent cafe, so that would be a nice change.
But there is a serious side to this too. Football is in a complete financial mess and it will probably need a big club to go out out of business to make people really take notice of what is going on. Whether Pompey is big enough - if they do go bust - to make people care time will tell. Personally I hope they survive.
On the other hand, I hope that Harry Redknap, who has ruined every club he has been involved with, gets everything he deserves.
