THE turmoil surrounding crisis-hit Portsmouth Football Club is having its impact on Basingstoke.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have petitioned the High Court to wind-up the financially-imperilled club which has struggled to pay its players on four occasions this season and has only just succeeded in having a player transfer embargo lifted.

Now Grosvenor Basingstoke Properties, the parent company of Festival Place Shopping Centre in Basingstoke, has joined the court action against the club.

The Gazette understands the property company's claim relates to a lease in Festival Place for which Portsmouth Football Club is alleged to be the guarantor and, as such, responsible for the rent.

Grosvenor media relations manager Kate Kilborn said: “We can confirm Grosvenor Basingstoke Properties Ltd has joined the HMRC winding up petition.

“We have no further comment to make on the details of the claim.”

Portsmouth director of communications Gary Double would only comment: “We are disputing the claim from Grosvenor.”

To save money the club has also temporarily closed a number of its academy centres in southern England, including one in Basingstoke.

The club has not staged its development centre at Fort Hill School, in Kenilworth Road, Winklebury, this year, as originally planned.