• Andrew Andronikou criticises Aston Villa manager
• ‘It smacks of pressure from one or two clubs,’ he says

Andrew Andronikou, the Portsmouth administrator, has fiercely criticised Martin O’Neill, the Premier League and Football Association, claiming that yesterday’s statement issued by the governing bodies which said the club could not make a late application for next season’s Europa League “smacked of pressure” from the Aston Villa manager.

“There was Martin O’Neill wagging and pointing his finger saying we shouldn’t be allowed because at the time Villa hadn’t qualified yet for Europe,” Andronikou said. “It smacks of pressure from one or two clubs.”

After Villa’s 2-1 victory at Portsmouth on 18 April, O’Neill said: “Would I have a problem with Portsmouth’s application to get into Europe? I probably would if we finished seventh, yeah.”

Villa can now finish no lower than seventh, so gaining the club entry to the Europa League, provided Portsmouth are not allowed to take up the place normally awarded to the FA Cup finalists if their opponents have already qualified. Portsmouth play Chelsea, who have already qualified for the Champions League, at Wembley next month.

Portsmouth missed the 1 March deadline imposed by the Premier League and FA to apply for a Uefa licence due to being in administration. Wednesday’s statement was an attempt from the governing bodies to clarify their position, after Andronikou had called their approach to the issue “quite a shambles”.

One part of the press release said: “The FA and Premier League made Mr Andronikou’s lawyers, who we had been asked to deal with, aware on 16 April that we would not accept a late Uefa club licence application from Portsmouth.”

That it understood to have been in the form of an email, although Adronikou said no correspondence had been received: “I can say there has been no official contact with our lawyers from the FA or Premier League. I’m very surprised they made this statement. I thought they would just stand back and allow normal protocol to proceed.

“All we want is a direct dialogue rather than have to conduct our business through the media. We’ve conducted ourselves in a professional manner.”

Asked why he thought the Premier League and FA had issued the statement, Andronikou said: “Look at the Premier League down the years; they never speak on such matters. Now they are saying it is all Portsmouth’s fault – we don’t need that. The Premier League represents the club, we still have a share in the Premier League.”

He admitted to feeling let down by the governing bodies. “I’m just amazed – we are very much the football family, I’d hope they’d support us in our hour of need but they’ve made a rod for their own backs. They are not even willing to listen and are making a mockery of the whole system. They’re happy enough in their ivory towers.”

Andronikou has said he will consider taking the case to the court of arbitration for sport. He claimed the cost in legal fees of such an action would be worth it but did admit that the chances of winning such a case might be slim.

“Our legal counsel says it’s a remote chance. But absolutely we can afford it – the funds would come from the administration [finance]. If we, as administrators, believe it’s financially beneficial for the club and creditors I don’t believe it’s cost prohibitive. And you are missing the point – the administration process is expensive so should that mean we should abandon that?”

Andronikou hopes to take Portsmouth out of administration by the end of next month. Rob Lloyd, who represents an unknown potential buyer, started due diligence at the start of this month.

Alhough Lloyd stated an offer would be made during the past week, Adronikou said he is yet to receive anything concrete. “I’ve had no contact with him for around two weeks. I understand he is in the process of making a formal offer in writing, but I have yet to receive this.”

Lloyd did not return calls today.

PortsmouthAston VillaMartin O’NeillPremier LeagueJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk