Eric Eisner realistic about Portsmouth position with ‘professional’ comment – Finance Expert
Portsmouth director Eric Eisner has to be careful not to upset supporters following his take on the refurbishment of Fratton Park, according to Dan Plumley.
The football finance expert has delivered his take on Eisner’s comments from last week, in which he praised the summer development works at the home of Pompey ahead of the club’s return to the Championship.
Eric – the son of owner Michael Eisner – has been a member of the board to oversee an injection of over £15m into the works, and claimed the Blues are beginning to look like a “professional club” again.
Plumley accepted he was bringing an air of realism to the position Portsmouth are at currently but thinks he might have chosen his words a little more careful.
“You do have to be careful with the wording there, slightly – you don’t want to upset the fans in that regard as they are a professional club,” Plumley exclusively told Pompey News.
“But I think there’s also a realism there to know that the stadium has been in need of work for some years, and the finances haven’t always been there to do it.
“It’s a longer-term growth that we’ve talked about for the club. There’s a realism to [Eisner’s] comments, and some of that investment is certainly long overdue. Getting back to the Championship provides that platform to grow.”
Portsmouth prepare for new Championship era
For all the criticism that had been levelled at the Eisners early in their ownership of Portsmouth, they have certainly delivered on several fronts in recent years.
Not only have they overseen the appointment of John Mousinho and his staff to steer the club back into the second tier, the considerable investment into the infrastructure of the club as well as its women’s team and internal staff is to be thoroughly commended.
Eisner’s comment is probably one that can be allowed – it comes across a tad brash, but authentic, and that’s essentially what Pompey is all about.
In terms of the development status itself, the club have posted regular updates online to provide fans a glimpse of how their football home is progressing.
This investment has been ongoing even before the team earned promotion but has been accelerated throughout the entire off-season to make Fratton Park a stadium fit for the Championship in 2024.
Pompey take on Millwall in their first match back in PO4 on 13 August in the Carabao Cup first round, although some stands will remain closed for the tie; the team host Luton Town on 17 August in their opening home fixture of the league campaign.
In other Portsmouth news, an Irish international has been added to Jay Sadler’s squad.
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