David Norris reacts to ‘massive’ Marlon Pack contract news at Portsmouth
David Norris has expressed his love for Marlon Pack as a leader after the “massive” news that the Portsmouth captain signed a new contract last month.
Pompey secured the future of boyhood supporter Pack with a new two-year contract this summer (BBC Sport, 26 June), with the skipper providing key Championship experience as John Mousinho and the board shape the squad for the challenge ahead after winning promotion last season.
Former Pompey midfielder Norris has emphasised how integral Pack is to the Portsmouth dressing room, with supporters able to resonate with a local lad living the dream in a royal blue shirt.
“I love this guy. It’s a massive signing to keep him at the club, both on and off the pitch,” Norris exclusively told Pompey News.
“The fans love him and appreciate what the football club means to them, and he symbolises and appreciates that. They know he’s going to lead on the pitch.
“He knows what the Championship is like and that can really help in any difficult times. You never know how the wins and losses are going to come, so I really like him – a proper captain, and a big signing to get his contract done.”
Marlon Pack’s Championship pedigree will benefit Portsmouth
Pack’s age profile, years of Championship experience and local hero status combine to make the 33-year-old the perfect captain to steer Portsmouth to a level they have yet to experience since Norris himself was at the club.
With 269 games in the division under his belt across spells with Bristol City and Cardiff City, the midfielder can guide his teammates on what to expect and how to deal with the adversity that rarely plagued Pompey in League One last term.
He stepped up to the plate in the run-in last season when his club needed him most, following on from an excellent season in which he picked up several Player of the Year accolades.
While a recruitment roster made up of Mousinho, sporting director Rich Hughes and the Blues’ scouting team seek to strengthen the squad for the task at hand, numerous players with experience of the league have joined on a mixture of free transfers and loan deals.
Pompey fans are now expecting the club to dip into the cheque book to bolster the team further, with pre-season preparations well underway in the shape of a demanding warm-weather camp in Croatia.
In other Portsmouth news, key forward Emma Jones has finally signed a professional deal with Pompey Women.
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