League Two Side Portsmouth Needs £4.1M To Avoid Closure Of Fratton Park

League Two side Portsmouth will need to find £4.1M ($5.3M) to "avoid sanctions and the possible closure of Fratton Park for safety reasons," according to SKY SPORTS. Essential repairs, estimated at £5M ($6.5M), are "required over the next five years" to keep Fratton Park -- Portsmouth's home since 1898 -- "fit for purpose." The first phase of work is due to begin later this month, but "only" £900,000 ($1.16M) has been "set aside for the urgent makeover." The club is currently in takeover talks with American billionaire Michael Eisner. In a statement, Portsmouth said, "A continuing lack of full compliance without appropriate agreement from Portsmouth City Council could reduce capacity. Currently there remains circa £900,000 in the escrow account. It is likely that all of this sum will be committed to a first phase Works Programme to be undertaken from May 2017 and into the 2017-2018 season" (SKY SPORTS, 5/1).