Autumn/Winter PFC News

Familiar face returns in key Portsmouth academy role

Kenny Jackett has welcomed Neil Sillett’s return to Pompey. Sillett is set to be confirmed as Dave Wright’s successor, after the head of academy recruitment and performance was poached by Brighton in October.

That means a return to the club he was a popular figure with in the 90s, when he served as head physio. Jackett is pleased the club have been able to recruit someone with Sillett’s contacts in the game. He has picked up a wealth of experience after also working at Derby, operating as an agent and taking on roles in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and more recently working with Aston Villa. Jackett feels the Purbrook-based man also has the local knowledge needed to work in the academy role. The Pompey boss spoke of his pleasure at Sillett’s appointment. He said: ‘Neil Sillett has been in for a couple of weeks now.

‘I’m very pleased about that, Neil is someone I know and have met on several occasions. ‘He’s a very good addition and has a lot of experience, but mainly for the youth recruitment role he has a lot of contacts. ‘He knows the Portsmouth area being local, but has a lot of contacts in the football world. ‘That can only be a help to recruit players which, for our youth department, is his job.

 

Portsmouth Academy winger features for Northern Ireland.

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Eoin Teggart is currently away on international duty with Northern Ireland under-17s. The Pompey Academy winger came off the bench in his country’s friendly defeat to Greece on Tuesday.

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Teggart featured for around the last 20 minutes in Northern Ireland’s 3-1 loss at Stangmore Park. The 17-year-old will also be in the Green and White Army’s squad when they again take on Greece tomorrow in preparation for next month’s European Championship elite round qualifiers. Teggart moved to Fratton Park from NIFL Premiership outfit Cliftonville for an undisclosed fee in September. After remaining patient on the sidelines while waiting for international clearance from FIFA to represent Pompey, he’s made 11 appearances and scored once for Mark Kelly’s side this season.

Teggert was also capped for his country at under-16 level.

 

Portsmouth striker completes loan switch to Cork City

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Dan Smith has completed a surprise loan move to Cork City. The Pompey striker has switched to the League of Ireland outfit for the remainder of the season.

Smith had been on loan at Bognor for the majority of the campaign. He enjoyed a successful spell at Nyewood Lane, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances during their Bostik League premier division play-off charge. The academy graduate was also handed his Blues bow this season, making two appearances during the run to the Checkatrade Trophy semi-finals. Kenny Jackett’s men travel to Bury on Tuesday. The Pompey boss told The News he thought Smith could play at a higher standard than Bognor before his first-team debut. And he’s moved up the football pyramid by joining Cork.

The Rebel Army are one of the top sides in the League of Ireland. They finished second in the table last year to Dundalk, as well as being being beaten by the champions in the FAI Cup final. Smith returns to familiar surroundings. He featured for Pompey in their 4-1 win over Cork during pre-season.

 

Portsmouth Academy forward switches to Bognor for rest of the season.

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17 year old Leon Maloney has moved to Bognor for the remainder of the season. The fledgling forward has been in excellent form for Pompey Academy this season. Maloney has scored 16 goals in 21 appearances for Mark Kelly’s young Blues. The Isle of Wight ace was rewarded with his Pompey first-team debut in the 2-0 Checkatrade Trophy victory at Southend last month. Maloney has featured for the Rocks once already this season.

Blues striker Dan Smith has left Nyewood Lane to join Cork City on loan. As a result, Jack Pearce has opted to take Maloney to Bognor in their push for Bostik League premier division promotion. The Rocks boss told his club’s website: ‘Leon is highly thought of at Pompey and we're delighted to be able to have him with us until the end of the season. ‘Our relationship with Pompey is excellent and we look forward to helping to develop Leon, as we have with other players on loan. ‘Dan has gone to Cork City and overall he has done very well for us this season. ‘We wish him all the best in Ireland and look forward to seeing his progress.’ Pompey Academy striker Bradley Lethbridge is also on loan at Bognor, while Freddie Read and Joe Dandy have both featured for Pearce’s side this term.

 

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Pompey youngster Joe Hancott has joined Basingstoke Town on loan. And the 17-year-old goes straight into the Dragons’ squad for their Southern League premier division south game at Hendon today. The left-back became the Blues’ youngest post-war debutant when he featured for Kenny Jackett's side in the Checkatrade Trophy against Fulham in August 2017. At the time, the defender was aged 16 years, five months and nine days, eclipsing Gary O’Neil’s January 2000 feat. No details have emerged over the length of Hancott’s loan move.