Pompey owner 'excited, nervous' on new venture

New Portsmouth chairman Sulaiman Al Fahim said on Thursday he was “excited and nervous”, as he waits for the start of the new Premier League season on Saturday. In his first interview since taking over as chairman of the club earlier this month, the UAE property tycoon has outlined his long term vision for the club, and hit back at critics who have cast doubt on the deal.Speaking exclusively to Arabian Business, Al Fahim said he cannot wait for the team’s first match against Fulham.“It’s a very big day for everyone involved. It’s the first time I will have been to a Premier League match, and I want the same as everybody else in Portsmouth – three points. "We have a tough game the following weekend at Arsenal, so it’s crucial we get off to a good start. But the mood in the camp is very positive, and I have been impressed with everything I have seen so far.”Al Fahim’s intentions to take over the club were first made public on May 27, since when he has been at the cente of a protracted takeover process. Many commentators have criticised the length of time the deal is taking to complete, and cast doubt on whether he has the finances to run the club.But Al Fahim is adamant he can do the job. “I wouldn’t have gone into this if I didn’t have the resources. You don’t try and buy a house that you can’t afford. I had been looking at getting involved in the Premier League since last year, and Portsmouth was a club that ticked all the right boxes financially, in terms of size. "But when I visited the town, and met some of the supporters, I knew straight away this was the right club to invest in,” he said, adding: “They are the most passionate and loyal people you can have supporting a club. Of course everyone single one of them has a view on how it should be run, which is good. "I’d rather own a club that the fans cared about then one they didn’t have any interest in.”Asked whether reports the deal has hit financial trouble are correct, he said: “Taking over a club is a complicated process. It is not just a soccer team, it is a major business. And there are responsibilities to the entire town and community. "Yes, it has taken longer than I would have liked, but it has to be done properly, and that’s what we are doing. The media like to make some mischief, and sometimes they report things that are not true. "I can’t help that, I can only focus on the job in front of me, which is what I am doing. I was told there would be a lot of media attention, but I try to ignore what is written in the papers and the blogs, because it is written by people who are only guessing. "My responsibility is to the club and the fans, not tabloid newspaper reporters. Having said that, I have always been very open with the media and that won’t change. They all have my number, and if they ring me 100 times, I will answer my phone a hundred times. "They have their job to do, but they must respect that I also have a job to do."With several players having been sold, there have been growing concerns that the club will struggle to stay in the Premier League. But again, Al Fahim says he is very positive for the season ahead. “We haven’t played one minute yet, and already everyone is giving their opinion, which they are entitled to. I have spent time at the club, I know the squad we have and I know the likely players we will add to this squad. "Do I think we will still be in Premier League next season? 100% yes. I am excited and nervous. I think we will have a good season. Do you really think I would buy a club that I thought was going to be relegated?”He added: “A team on paper is different to the one on the field. Look at Real Madrid a few years ago, they had players like Beckham and Zidane. And they didn’t win anything. Look at Arsenal, they play some of the best football in the world, and they have some incredible players. "But they haven’t won anything for longer than Portsmouth. There is more to a team then names – there is commitment, there is desire and team spirit. We have all those in abundance, and there will also be more names to come."Al Fahim is keen to play down suggestions that he needs “big names” to strengthen the squad. “If you see how Manchester United became successful, it was through their academy. Players like Beckham and Scholes, and Giggs came from there. We will invest in our youth academy and make it first rate. We will also look at young players from abroad, especially South America, hopefully we can bring some talent from there as well. "This is club that is going to be steadily developed over many years, and that development has already started. I am not claiming we are going to win the Champions League in two years, but I expect us to show progress each year.”The new owner has been putting the finishing touches to his longer term plans for the club, which are believed to focus on a new stadium, new academy and also many community initiatives. “Portsmouth is more than a football club. It is a town and a community, and I want to play a big part in developing both. I hope the fans will give me the chance to do so. What is my message to them? Give me a chance, I will work hard and try my best for you. Life is never easy, and there will I am sure be many ups and downs on our journey forward. But we are in this together, let us stay together and work together.”