Blue flags, blue shirts and big smiles.

Three things that you probably wouldn't have seen linked in Portsmouth over the last five years; following the club's extraordinary fall from fame.

However, the feel good factor is set to return to the club come December, as the Pompey Supporters' Trust look set to tie up a deal to buy back the club.

Administrators PKF have given the Trust a conditional sales agreement to buy back the club, after five years of financial turmoil – putting fans' all but two agreements away from pulling off the largest fan-led takeover in British football.

Obstacles a-plenty have stood in the fans' way to own Pompey, with two more set to test the Trust's bid. However, one of these is Football League approval; set to be decided at the League's meeting next month.

The other is far more complex. In order to complete the purchase of the club, the Trust must also purchase the club's famous ground, Fratton Park.

Reluctant former owner, Balram Chainrai, has set an £11million fee for the ground; far inflated to that of two independent valuations of the Fratton site.

However, the true value of Pompey's most prized asset will be decided during a court hearing; proceedings that will determine an 'affordable valuation based on the Trust's finances'.

Ashley Brown, Chairman of the Pompey Supporters' Trust, says the bid team are targeting an early Christmas present for the club's die-hard fans.

He said: “We hope to finalise the sale by Christmas, and go into 2013 with a fresh start for our great club.

“This is a special day for the thousands of Pompey fans who have stood by their club and stood up to be counted.

“We thank everyone for their support so far, and look forward to many more Pompey fans joining us, and being part of history, as we create the biggest community owned club in this country.”

Trust spokesperson Colin Farmery also moved to speak of a new Pompey; bringing competitive football back to the club.

“We're looking to be able to field a competitive side and give any incoming manager the tools to do his job.

“We'd also like to be able to give a good budget for new players and wages”, he said.

It's not just the court hearing that stands in the fans' way, though – the bid still requires your support to be a success.

The club will be hoping that all those who put down a £100 share deposit will stump up the remaining £900 – as well as attracting more fans who may have been staying away until the bid had its best chance.

Regardless of your opinions on the Trust, Chainrai or the future of Pompey – the time is now to dig deep and give your club the right footing to move on from five years of heartache.

It is also imperative that any rebuilding from within the club is undertaken by the very fabric that holds Pompey together – the supporters; the honest, working folk that spend hundreds each year to follow their side, both home and away.

The Trust is currently finalising a fans’ share prospectus, which will be distributed from Monday November 19.

There are several ways to own your own piece of Portsmouth Football Club; from purchasing a £1,000 share in the club, to forming a syndicate with friends or family – or even those you sit with on match days.

Full details on how to buy a share – or more, if the double-dip recession didn't hit you too badly, can be found in the Trust's share prospectus, which will be distributed from Monday, November 19.

This will also be available at www.communitypompey.co.uk from the same day.

You can also join me live on Twitter (@DanBrett90) from 2pm today, as the Trust outline the benefits that fans will reap from investing in the club.

A report will also be available on this site shortly after the press conference ends.

Photo: Action Images

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