Portsmouth defender Ryley Towler

Ryley Towler patience 'wearing thin' at Portsmouth after what happened - journalist

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

13 Nov 2024, 2:21 pm

Ryley Towler's patience at Portsmouth will be "wearing thin" after being shunned from the matchday squad on Saturday, says Mark McMahon.

The News journalist [13 November] reported up to 10 players who could be loaned or sold in the January transfer window as the club continue the surgery of their squad in the Championship.

Towler was not only omitted from John Mousinho's matchday squad for the win over Preston [9 November], but also had to sit in the stands to watch midfielder Marlon Pack replace the out-of-form Tom McIntyre at centre-half.

McMahon said: "The 22-year-old didn't even make the bench for the visit of Preston on Saturday.

"What's more, midfielder Marlon Pack played in the centre of defence after the decision was taken to drop McIntyre for the visit of North End.

"Towler's patience is bound to be wearing thin."

Ryley Towler could excel away from Portsmouth

Towler's situation is a precarious one for Portsmouth to deal with.

The young defender is a consummate professional and always a positive influence around the squad, which makes him easily coachable - as was seen during the early-season injury crisis in which he started the first four games of the season and gradually improved.

This was his first real exposure to the Championship, but he was unable to get in the squad in League One last season either - meaning a loan back to that level could make more sense to his continued development.

Marlon Pack was the Portsmouth Player of the Season for 2023/24. (Credit: Imago)

McIntyre's struggles of late have been recognised by Mousinho as he removed him from the firing line against Preston, but instead of turning to Towler next in the pecking order he opted to put a square peg in a round hole with Pack.

Essentially for Pompey, the captain put in a solid performance which further limits the opportunities of the former Bristol City youngster, and a move away could be the ideal scenario for all parties if nothing changes by January.

In other Portsmouth news, Andy Cullen responds to fan concerns about the transfer budget.

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Ryley Towler