Pompey offer all matchday workers let go by Piglet's Pantry jobs at Fratton Park

All casual workers who were employed by Piglet’s Pantry received a letter yesterday advising that the company was insolvent and they would not be paid there wages from last month. Pompey have called the situation “very unfortunate” and are exploring ways in which it can take off the food catering role for the remainder of the season.

The club have revealed in a statement that they have invited all Piglet’s Pantry matchday staff to work with them at Fratton Park.

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The statement reads: “Portsmouth Football Club understand that our catering partner, Piglet’s Pantry, have recently appointed insolvency practitioners. We are deeply concerned about Piglet’s Pantry's inability to meet their responsibilities, including to pay outstanding salaries. These are owed to hard-working individuals, who play an important role in the success of every matchday at Fratton Park.

“We are liaising with the insolvency practitioners on an ongoing basis about these issues and are pressing them for urgent solutions. As part of these discussions, we are exploring ways in which Portsmouth Football Club will be able to step in to assist with the performance of these functions for the remainder of the season.

“In this regard, we have already invited all Piglet’s Pantry staff to work with us at Fratton Park. We are pleased that there has already been a significant amount of interest expressed in our offer.”

The statement concludes: “Obviously, this is a very unfortunate situation for Piglet’s Pantry and, more importantly, the individuals affected, but please rest assured that Portsmouth Football Club are trying to do all we can in the circumstances to find solutions.”

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While this is good news for the staff’s future, they are still left without pay from last month. In the letter sent by Piglet’s Pantry to its staff, and seen by The News, it claimed that a verbal agreement had been made with the club that the club would take all of the matchday revenue from Tuesday night’s game at Fratton Park and use it to pay staff.

As there was no matchday revenue, with the game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, this did not take place.

Piglet’s Pantry also claimed that following the postponement it asked the owners of Portsmouth FC directly if they could support them to help pay staff. The letter states that they did not receive a response from the owners but had confirmation from the club in writing that it “will not be helping with the staff payments”.

The catering issue will need to be resolved by Portsmouth’s next home game, which is on Saturday, February 14 against Sheffield United.