Portsmouth Football Club have taken up options to extend the deals of Connor Ogilvie, Josh Oluwayemi and Harry Jewitt-White. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing with Ronan Curtis and Jay Mingi regarding new contracts at Fratton Park. And teenage defender Josh Dockerill has been offered his first professional deal after graduating from the academy. Pompey can also confirm that eight players will be leaving the club when their contracts expire this summer. Clark Robertson, Michael Jacobs, Louis Thompson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Kieron Freeman, Jayden Reid, Alfie Bridgman and Dan Gifford are all set to depart. In addition, Di’Shon Bernard, Owen Dale, Matt Macey, Joe Pigott and Dane Scarlett have returned to their parent clubs following the end of their loan spells. Colby Bishop, Reeco Hackett, Denver Hume, Paddy Lane, Tom Lowery, Haji Mnoga, Joe Morrell, Marlon Pack, Joe Rafferty, Sean Raggett, Toby Steward, Zak Swanson, Ryley Towler and Liam Vincent all remain under contract. Pompey head coach John Mousinho said: “We would like to thank all those players who are leaving for the contribution they have made – whether that’s those lads who came in on loan in January or those who have been here for longer. “All of them have conducted themselves brilliantly ever since I arrived and we would like to wish them well for the future. “Part of what we’re trying to build here is making sure that players leave the football club in the right way and I can assure them that they will always be a part of this football club. “I would also like to thank Manchester United, Blackpool, Luton, Ipswich and Tottenham for loaning us their players. We have a lot of good relationships with other clubs and long may that continue. “There’s now some time for those players who are staying to rest and make sure they come back rejuvenated for the start of pre-season training. “We’ve got some clarity on what we’re trying to do for next season and know what we need to achieve between now and the start of the next campaign. “We’re all excited about what’s ahead, but we know that we cannot achieve our aims without a lot of hard work and dedication. I know there are lot of people in the building who will give us that.” Portsmouth Football Club can also confirm that second year scholars Jamie Howell, Gabriel Kamavuako, Adam Payce and Elliott Simpson have not been offered new deals.
The player I am most disappointed to see leave is Clark Robertson. i feel he is probably our best central defender and can also cover for the left back position. If Bernard is not signed I think Robertson will be sorely missed. His name can be added to Whatmourgh and Burgess as central defenders that have departed without us becoming stronger in those positions. I am also slightly disappointed to see Jacobs depart. I think he could of potentially combined well with Lane and Lowery in the coming season. Against that he does appear to be injury prone and has some games where he contributes little. I know age is against both Robertson and Jacobs but this should not matter for the short term objectives of promotion next season and remaining in the Championship after the following season. Reducing our chances of promoton to bring in younger payers is not the way to go at the moment. As players Thompson, Tunnicliffe and Freeman have all made contributions I have admired from time to time but it is apparent their futures are no longer with Pompey. Freeman in particular I have thought of as a class player and I felt the Crawleys treated him harshly selection wise. With injuries adding to that he has had little opportunity. However, Rafferty and Swanson are now clearly above him in the pecking order.
