Dean Smith: Clear up footballs' money mess

Walsall FC boss Dean Smith today insisted there are "grey" areas over football's financial rules and called for clearer punishments.

The Saddlers go to crisis club Portsmouth tomorrow with Pompey in administration after years of over-spending.

The 2008 FA Cup winners have slipped from the Premier League to League One and were forced to build a team from scratch in the summer. Smith believes football's governing bodies need to make the consequences of spending beyond your means crystal clear.

He said: "There's been a lot of trouble, financially, in football over the last 10 or 15 years with clubs going into administration. The authorities need to sort out what the punishment is going to be and stick to it.

"It looks like there are a few grey areas and I'm not sure what the rules are at the moment.

"I know there have been plenty of proposals from chairmen over the years talking about relegation, but the authorities are in charge of football and they'll do their best.

"What goes on at Portsmouth is down to the authorities, the Football League and the FA to sort out – not us.

"The good thing about this club is we're run like a business and it's important we do that.

"Things are tight at times, but we run a tight ship and a real, professional one."

Portsmouth will be hit with a 10-point penalty when they exit administration with a preferred buyer for the stricken club set to be announced today.

Boss Michael Appleton brought in the likes of Brian Howard, Darel Russell and Lee Williamson over the summer and Saddlers defender Dean Holden has warned against thinking Pompey were doomed.

Smith agrees and believes the quality of Pompey's team is a contrast to their off-field problems.

"On the football side of it, they have brought in some quality players and I'm not sure they've been shopping in Lidl," he said.

"They spent pre-season in Spain – we spent it in Essington.

"It does raise question marks in your mind at times, but I don't know the goings-on at Portsmouth and it's not my concern. My concern is my team."