PORTSMOUTH will officially go into administration this morning with the automatic nine point penalty virtually ensuring relegation from the Premier League.

Owner Balram Chainrai took the decision yesterday evening after talks with four interested groups failed to lead to a takeover of the club, which has £70million debts.

The process of going into administration has already begun and this will be completed in the High Court today.

Pompey will become the first Premier League club to go into administration and the nine point penalty will leave them on seven points, 16 behind their nearest rivals.

Administrator Andrew Andronikou, of insolvency experts UHY Hacker Young, will now begin the process of cutting costs at the club to try to keep it as a viable entity.

A major sell-off of players and the prospect of a long period of rebuilding in the Championship now looms.

Hall said talks had not broken down with the four interested groups but the club had not been attractive enough to them in its current financial state.

He added: ‘‘Once the club is in a more viable state it may become more attractive to them in terms of a takeover.’’ Chainrai, who is looking to recover a £17million loan he made to the previous owners, has moved to prevent the club from being wound up in the High Court on Monday over £7.5million owed to HM Revenue and Customs.

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant said he was ‘‘very sad’’ and ‘‘very angry’’ at the situation.

Grant stressed his experience at Pompey had been one of constant frustration.