Latest news with #FrattonPark
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Grateful Bramall backs Pompey for play-off push
Cohen Bramall is grateful for an "amazing time" with Portsmouth - and says he expects the Blues to challenge for the Championship play-offs next 29-year-old former Rotherham, Lincoln and Colchester left-back made 12 Championship appearances, four of them starts, after arriving at Fratton Park from the Millers in January on a short-term one-time Arsenal youngster told BBC Radio Solent that not being offered a new contract by Pompey had not come as a shock, saying: "It wasn't surprising because of the financial situation and the players already in that position. "I kind of got told that already before I signed. The reason why I signed is that it's Portsmouth, a massive club, and a bigger platform to play on, and I back myself to perform and show the league, the team, myself and other people what I'm all about."I appreciate the gaffer being honest with me. He took a gamble on bringing me in. I am more than grateful to him for giving me the opportunity."I went from playing two years in the Championship with Rotherham to not really playing a lot in League One under Steve Evans. "It doesn't look great, a League One player going to a team in that position in the Championship in January - I am guessing the fans would want a higher standard of player, but the fact they welcomed me and gave me the time of day was amazing and refreshing for my mental state."Before I came I wasn't in the greatest of headspaces. It wasn't a good time. Fratton Park brought me back to normal. It brought back so much confidence and knowing how well I can play. I got back to my old self."I am at peace. I did the best I could. I might have not been offered a deal but it feels good to have played a part in keeping Portsmouth up."Bramall says he'll "wait and see" where he ends up next season, though he already has an idea where Pompey may find themselves."I think play-offs, and that's not stretching it," he said. "Minimum you're looking at top 10 - we finished so strong at home, if we can tidy up a few things with away performances and be more solid, they can 100% creep into the play-offs."It's one of the hardest leagues in the world. My first year at Rotherham we stayed up, second year, back-to-back, it's hard to stay up. You have to replicate and more. It was mentally draining, but I think they'll be sweet."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Mousinho expects 'relatively busy' Pompey summer
John Mousinho says he expects a relatively busy summer at Fratton Park, with Pompey eyeing a mix of free-agent signings, purchases and loan Blues boss told BBC Radio Solent this time of year "is probably busier than usual" but said the club are in a "really strong position" having consolidated in the Championship after promotion and are not in any rush to conduct business."Nothing is close at all, we've been tracking players but we're not panicking," he said. "There's definitely a couple of free agents we are interested in but it's likely to be a combination of paying fees for players and bringing loans in."Mousinho added he felt the club's retained list this year "probably wasn't a controversial one".Kusini Yengi scored 13 goals in all competitions in 2023-24 as Pompey won League One, but was not offered a new deal after failing to make a telling impact this term, without a goal in 14 appearances."He was pivotal in us winning the league last season but for a number of reasons it's not quite happened for him this year, including some injuries," Mousinho admitted."It felt like the best way was to not exercise his option and let him explore other options. We're happy where we are in the centre-forward department and didn't see him playing a lot next year."Also departing is left-back Cohen Bramall, who the Blues signed in January on a deal until the end of the season, with Mousinho adding: "It was a good opportunity for him to showcase himself and I think he did well, had a very solid contribution to us managing to stay up and was a very positive influence."The club hope keeper Ben Killip will agree a new deal while they have exercised their option to keep former Arsenal right-back Zak Swanson, with Mousinho saying: "He ended up starting 24 games this year - when he has played I think he's looked every inch a Championship right-back."He added: "There's nothing we are absolutely desperate to do. What we don't want to do is let players go too early and then not necessarily have replacements. It's probably going to be a case of waiting to bring players in before we let players go."It won't be like it has been for the past two summers. It won't be 14 through the door. It won't be one or two. I suspect it'll probably land halfway between them. We're not going to force anything."One of those who remains on the radar is Bristol City defender Rob Atkinson, who enjoyed a successful loan at Pompey to finish the season."Everyone knows we're there and perfectly willing to do a deal for Rob but he's Bristol City's player and we'll see what they do with him first," Mousinho said."If they had gone up it probably would have made things slightly more straightforward but it depends on them."
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pompey plan Atkinson conversation when time is right
Portsmouth are keen to bring defender Rob Atkinson back next season, but are in no rush to push a deal director Richard Hughes told BBC Radio Solent that Pompey plan a conversation about the 26-year-old's future, but only after parent club Bristol City's Championship play-off campaign is defender made 14 league appearances, 13 of them starts, after arriving at Fratton Park on loan in January, and scored two precious goals against Derby last month to help keep the Blues away from trouble."We've loved having Rob, he's been brilliant and made a big impact," Hughes said. "He's Bristol City's player and we'll always be respectful of that. "We'll probably have to let their season come to a natural conclusion and then there's a conversation to be had as to whether something works for everyone."Hughes said "it's probably unlikely any other loanees return", adding: "They have all served purposes. I know Freddie Potts will want to test himself at the highest level. I spoke to Graham Potter… West Ham have been really pleased with his development."Adil Aouchiche and Isaac Hayden both came in in January and affected games in different ways and helped in that upturn in results post-January. "We'll never say no but we're looking in a lot of different directions."There are likely to be departures too, with Hughes admitting: "Some of them will have had a big impact on the team in the past two years but there are some players who need to go and play football, that's really important, for their development and to do the right thing. "It's a natural evolution from going from a League One team to finishing in a relatively good position in the Championship. We want to keep getting better."Hughes said he did not expect much movement on the transfer front until June and said Pompey would "take learnings" from signings which have not worked out, adding: "Players have to have an athletic profile, have to be able to handle the ball and have to be able to cope with the demands that John Mousinho's going to place on them."I think there'll be fewer players than we have seen in the last couple of summers. The board have always been open and respectful when we've put the right propositions in front of them. Invariably they have always backed us."We'll be looking to bring in some players who can affect the starting XI and better the club for the here and now but also the future."Click here to listen to BBC Radio Solent's full interview with Richard Hughes.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The club is only going in one direction
The club is only going in one direction - Bishop [Rex Features] Portsmouth striker Colby Bishop is already looking forward to another year in the Championship and says they will be a "very strong team" next season. After winning just one of their opening 14 games and sitting five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table, Pompey picked up 45 points in the next 32 matches to finish 16th. John Mousinho's side were on a 64-point pace from 9 November onwards, which would have seen them finish in the top 10 if they had carried that form through the whole season. It was a run that coincided with Bishop's return to the side following heart surgery. "Obviously, I missed quite a big chunk of it and didn't come back in the greatest place, so if you'd told me then that we'd finish 16th, then I'd have snapped your hand off," Bishop told BBC Radio Solent. "It's down to the lads and the staff who worked really hard and reaped the rewards." Bishop ended the season as Portsmouth's league top goalscorer for a third consecutive campaign with 11 goals in 32 appearances. "After missing a big chunk, I didn't know what was going to happen or how many you're going to get," he said. "But I'm happy to get top goalscorer - three seasons as top goalscorer." The 28-year-old, who extended his contract at Fratton Park in February until June 2028, believes Pompey can improve on their league position next season. "Last year was a rocky start, so I'm looking forward to having a fresh start, coming back fit and seeing where this team can take it," Bishop added. "If we have a fully fit team next year with some of the lads we've got and a couple more signings, I think we'll be a very strong team. "I think the club has moved forward so much since I first came here, and behind the scenes, they're still trying to make it so much better, so I think it's only going to go in one direction." Listen to Colby Bishop's full interview on BBC Sounds.
