Blues assured of Pompey gate money

Birmingham City have been assured they will receive their share of the gate receipts from Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Portsmouth.

Alex McLeish's side go to Fratton Park this weekend to contest a place in the Wembley semi-finals, with their opponents gripped in financial crisis.

Pompey now must return to the High Court on March 5 after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, who are chasing over £7million in unpaid tax, challenged the club's move into administration.

Under competition rules, both clubs are entitled to 45 per cent of the gate receipts and Blues are believed to have contacted the FA to seek assurances that they will receive their share.

An FA spokesman said: "There is no way Birmingham wouldn't get their money as it's part and parcel of the competition's regulations.

"Portsmouth are aware of the regulations and will know the money has to be redistributed."

McLeish believes Portsmouth's crisis could have a galvanising effect on their players.

Just a day after news broke of the club having to go into administration, Pompey beat Burnley 2-1, and the Blues boss is eager to ensure his side don't fluff their lines as well.

He said: "We should be going into the game relaxed – but we will be up against dangerous opposition.

"Portsmouth are backed into a corner, they had a great result at Burnley last weekend and have some great players. They are on their own patch and, as anyone knows in this league, including the top teams like Manchester United and Chelsea, it is not easy to go away and win.

"The draw could have been worse but it could have been better and we've been drawn away in every round this season."

Blues could face their former winger Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who showed glimpses of magic during a loan spell at St Andrew's last season.

But the former Arsenal trainee's temporary stay from Spartak Moscow was cut short in January 2009.

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