Murphy satellite appeal 'may have missed boat'
There are doubts over the 'landmark' satellite football case which was due to be submitted to the High Court this week.
Lawyers acting for Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy failed to submit their appeal to the High Court before Tuesday's deadline - saying there were problems with paperwork issued by Portsmouth Crown Court.
There does not seem to me to be any valid reason why the appeal should now be accepted at the High Court out of time and it may be that Mr Dixon has indeed missed the boatMA legal editor Peter Coulson.
Murphy's solicitor, Paul Dixon, told the MA on Wednesday: "Vital paperwork from Portsmouth Crown which triggers the High Court appeal procedure has had to be returned to Portsmouth for correction."
However, the Premier League has revealed that Portsmouth Crown Court has refused to amend its documentation saying the mistakes were "minor typographical errors" - leaving Murphy's legal team to submit their appeal "out of time".
MA legal editor Peter Coulson says it is by no means certain the High Court will accept a late submission.
He said: "The practice directions from the Administrative Court for this type of appeal are specific that the appellant must serve notice at the High Court within 10 days after he receives the stated case from the Crown Court.
"The requirements are very strict and there appears to be no room for flexibility.
"With the Crown Court having rejected the claims about minor typographical errors, there does not seem to me to be any valid reason why the appeal should now be accepted at the High Court out of time and it may be that Mr Dixon has indeed missed the boat."
However, Paul Dixon, of Molesworth, Bright Clegg, speaking to the MA on Wednesday said as far as he was concerned Karen Murphy would still be having her day in the High Court.
