Cullen opens up on contract decision for key Portsmouth figures
Portsmouth CEO Andy Cullen has explained the reasoning behind tying Rich Hughes and John Mousinho down to simultaneous deals.
The duo both committed their futures to Pompey recently and Cullen, speaking at the Tony Goodall Fans’ Conference in late September, discussed the club’s joy to get the double deal over the line.
Mousinho steered the Blues into the Championship after a long 13-season absence, while Hughes masterminded the signings of many of the promotion-winning squad.
The minutes of the meeting with various supporters’ groups at Fratton Park were published via the club’s official website [10 October].
“Football is a very short-term industry. We want to have staff here who are fully aligned to our strategy, and to keep them here for the long term,” Cullen stated.
“Rich and John are both very aligned with each other and with the club’s objectives – that’s essential, otherwise you risk lurching and employing a somewhat muddled and knee jerk approach both to football operations matters and player recruitment strategy.
“We’re really pleased with the new deals for both and are delighted they have both committed themselves to the football club.”
Portsmouth progressing off the pitch
In terms of contracts, investment and infrastructure, Portsmouth are gradually continuing on the right path.
It is so refreshing for supporters, who have been dragged through about as much turbulence short of liquidation a club can experience, to be able to give their backing to a stable club operating in a healthy way.
This has been reflected on the pitch with a sensational campaign last year for both the men’s and women’s teams – the issue now is sustaining it at the next level, with both sides having struggled in the opening weeks of this season.
The academy also needs work to prevent local talent slipping away elsewhere, but in terms of where the first team are, Mousinho and Hughes are the centrepiece of the operation and must be secured in place.
January will be a huge month during which Hughes in particular is cast under judgement, while Mousinho’s challenge lies in the coming months, with winnable fixtures around the corner.
In other Portsmouth news, Hughes discusses the injury record this season.
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