Don Goodman makes admission over early Portsmouth transfer business
Don Goodman believes Portsmouth could benefit from releasing a large number of players ahead of their Championship return.
Pompey confirmed on 1 May that 10 players are departing Fratton Park upon the expirations of their current deals this summer.
Marlon Pack and Connor Ogilvie are deliberating over fresh terms, while talks are ongoing with Joe Morrell and Zak Swanson.
When you also factor in that four others have returned to their parent club, Portsmouth’s squad is now looking a little threadbare.
However, Goodman believes the club’s ruthless cull is a positive as long as they can bring in replacements.
“I think releasing so many players is an opportunity to bring in fresh players they feel will improve the squad ready for the Championship,” he told Pompey News.
“It’s all about the recruitment and getting that right, which will define a season. There’s no room for sentiment – that’s a negative thing because it can hold you back from a level you want to go to.
“They will look at the quality and calibre of every player and decide which are able to do it at Championship level and build from there, adding to the squad some players to go straight into the XI. They can then give themselves a fighting chance of being in the top half of the Championship next season.”
Portsmouth have work to do in summer transfer window
Supporters always knew there was a strong chance of a big overhaul at Fratton Park in the summer months given the number of players out of contract.
That is what makes promotion back to the second tier all the more important. Now that that has been achieved, hopefully the transfer department are already working on bringing in new players.
Ipswich showed last season exactly what is capable in terms of back-to-back promotions, but the difference is they kept pretty much the exact same core group of XI starters.
John Mousinho will be tasked with keeping Pompey in the division, rather than going up to the Premier League, so let’s just hope he is fully backed by his own bosses.
In other Portsmouth news, Goodman says the club must do everything in their power to keep hold of one player.
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