Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter PFC News

Veteran midfielder 35 year old Shaun Williams released by Pompey has signed for Gillingham. Wish him well !

 

Strong rumours coming out of Fratton Park that 26 year old Republic of Ireland international winger Ronan Curtis, whose existing contract expires in June 2023, could be on his way out of the club, with Scottish team Hibernian leading the way for his signature at a reported fee of £500,000.

Apparently, there are a few Championship sides also interested in signing him. Shame if he goes, but unfortunately, that's football !!

 

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Pompey have appointed 30 year old Joe Prodomo as the club’s new first team goalkeeping coach. He replaces Michael Poke, who has stepped down from the role for family and travel reasons. Prodomo arrives from Bournemouth, where he had been coaching the development squad’s stoppers. He was previously at Fratton Park coaching the Academy keepers including Toby Steward.

In 2020 he linked up with former Cherry player and under-21s assistant manager Mark Molesley at Southend United.

 

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Pompey are among a number of clubs interested in signing 26 year old winger Mikkel Miller, who is available on a free transfer from Rotherham United.

 

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Pompey have completed the signing of Marlon Pack on a two-year deal.

The 31-year-old 6' 2" tall Portsmouth-born midfielder has returned to the club where he began his professional career.

After progressing through the academy, he made two senior appearances in 2010 before departing for Cheltenham.

Pack has since played Championship football for Bristol City and Cardiff, departing the latter club at the end of last season.

Blues boss Danny Cowley said: “It’s one that we’ve been working hard on ever since we knew that he was available.

“We were aware of his ties with the club, but didn’t quite realise just how much it and the city meant to him.

“The families of Marlon and his wife live in Portsmouth and so we were able to pull on his heartstrings to make it happen!

“He’s had offers from other clubs this summer, but he started his career here and it would be brilliant for him to end it here and close the circle.

“There aren’t many contracts I’ve done where a player has asked for tickets as part of the deal and that says a lot about the number of Pompey fans among his family and friends.

“Marlon ticks so many boxes for us. He’s a ball handler and has a fantastic range of passing, while he’s very good in the defensive transition.

“His positional play is excellent and there’s so much to his game, but we’re also excited by the leadership he’ll provide off the pitch.

“We’re working hard to connect this group with the people of Portsmouth and there’s no better way than to sign someone who knows the area and what it takes to be successful.

“It’s really important for us to bring in the right players and the qualities our fans are looking for can be found in Marlon.”

Pack spent time on loan with Wycombe, Dagenham & Redbridge and Cheltenham during his first spell at Fratton Park.

His senior appearances for the Blues came in a League Cup tie with Crystal Palace and a Championship clash with Cardiff.

Pack moved to Whaddon Road on a permanent basis in 2011 and twice helped the Robins reach the League Two play-offs, being named in the PFA Team of the Year on both occasions.

He then signed for Bristol City and was a regular member of the side that secured both the League One title and the EFL Trophy in 2014/15.

Pack continued to impress in the Championship and made a total of 282 appearances for the club, then went on to feature more than 100 times in three seasons with Cardiff.

 

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Former Fulham and QPR defender Zesh Rehman joins Portsmouth in academy role
Portsmouth have appointed former Fulham defender Zesh Rehman as their new lead professional development phase coach and will oversee the under 18 side.

The 38-year-old, who just retired from Southern in Hong Kong, ended a 19-year playing career and will now join Pompey as a lead professional development phase coach. He will be overseeing the under 18 team and expressed his excitement over the appointment on Twitter.

He tweeted: "Delighted to join Portsmouth as the Lead Professional Development Phase Coach. Looking forward to working with everyone across this massive club."

In his playing days, Rehman became the first British Asian to start a Premier League and also the first to play in all four divisions of professional football in England. He also made 25 appearances for Pakistan, scoring one goal, after playing for England at youth level.

 

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Portsmouth are reportedly considering young Brighton goalkeeper 6' 2" Carl Rushworth as an option for Danny Cowley's number one shirt next season, with a loan move possible.

Brighton's 20-year-old keeper Carl Rushworth is the man in question after BBC reporter Andrew Moon tweeted: "Pompey are considering Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth for a possible loan deal."

Rushworth has been called up for England U21 duty by Lee Carsley on several occasions during the last 12 months, but is yet to play a match, however, in his search for first team minutes, Portsmouth look an attractive prospect for the young shot-stopper.

He played 43 matches on to Wallsall in Division 2 last season, and was named as Walsall's players' player of the season and the supporters' young player of the season.

Reportedly, scouts from Barcelona have repeatedly watched him last season, and it was rumoured that they were contemplating making a bid for him.

 

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Born in Nigeria, 24 years of age, 5' 10" tall. Have seen him play against us. He is a very skilful forward, but not a prolific goalscorer! But, as we currently have no strikers on the books, apart from talented youngster Dan Gifford, beggars can't be choosers!!

 

Sam Hudson has joined as assistant to Zesh Rehman in a new-look Blues youth set-up for the 2022-23 campaign and beyond.

He replaces James Barlow, who had been promoted to the Academy’s head of coaching in February following Sean O’Driscoll’s departure.

Together, Rehman and Hudson have been challenged to revitalise Pompey’s youth system, whose output has declined in recent years.

Hudson possesses an intriguing CV, having coached in England, Wales, Sweden and the USA.

Last season he worked as a youth development phase coach in Villa’s Category 1 Academy, before switching to the south coast.

The Uefa A licensed coach previously spent three-and-a-half years in Derby’s Academy, while also worked in the youth set-up at Burton Albion and in New Jersey, America.

 

Ex-Pompey striker Brett Pitman released by Bristol Rovers, has signed for local non league club AFC Portchester.

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Pompey have completed the signing of defender Zak Swanson from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old right-back has put pen to paper on a two-year deal, with the club option of a further 12 months.

Blues boss Danny Cowley said: “We’ve highlighted that we want to try to bring talented young players to the club.

“Zak is exactly that and brings an energy and athleticism to our squad after a fantastic footballing education at Arsenal.

“He’s technically very good and has lovely passing skills, along with the ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas.

“He loves to overlap and get into the final third of the pitch to threaten the opposition goal, providing crosses and shots.

“There are still areas of the game for him to work at – like with all young players – but it’s an exciting signing because we see the growth in Zak.

“We love the fact that he’s versatile. We’ve seen him play in a number of positions for Arsenal and he does them all equally well.

“He’s a rounded footballer and is tactically intelligent, so we look forward to working with him and are delighted to have brought him out to Spain with us.”

Swanson joined the Arsenal academy at the age of six and has represented them at a variety of youth levels, including in Premier League 2.

He previously spent time on loan at Dutch outfit MVV Maastricht and has shown his versatility by representing the Gunners across the back four and also in midfield.

Swanson was a regular presence on the bench for Mikel Arteta’s men in the second half of last season.

 

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28 year old defender Joe Rafferty looks set to sign for Portsmouth after leaving Preston North End on a free transfer this summer.

The 6' tall former Liverpool academy player can play at either left or right back, but it appears Danny Cowley wishes to sign him to play at right back, with the possibility of existing defender Kieron Freeman being sold to another club, with Hull City allegedly interested in signing him.

 

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According to Ipswich Town FC, Pompey are on the verge of signing their 28 year old, 6' 2" tall striker Joe Piggott on loan for the season with the option of a permanent transfer if all goes well.

He struggled to settle at Ipswich last season after being signed on a free transfer by then manager Paul Cook, from Wimbledon, where he had scored a hatful of goals in the three years he was there.

 

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Rumour has it that 22 year old, 6' 2" Irish born striker Jonathan Afolabi is on his way to Pompey on a free transfer, after being released by Glasgow Celtic. He was born in Dublin, of Nigerian extract, and spent three years in Southampton's academy, before moving to Scotland in 2019.

He has played for the Republic of Ireland Under 19's and Under 21's. Sounds an interesting prospect.

 

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Danny Cowley takes ex Reading FC and Crewe defender on trial ahead of potential Portsmouth move. Defender Terell Thomas is on trial at Portsmouth as he eyes a potential move to the Blues.

Boss Danny Cowley brought a number trialists in for the behind-closed-doors friendly against Bristol City on Tuesday. Thomas is currently a free agent after leaving Reading at the end of the 2021/22 season. The 26-year-old came up through the Arsenal academy and has recently been with AFC Wimbledon and Crewe Alexandra.

Playing at centre-back his addition would strengthen a current area of weakness with only Clark Robertson, who Thomas replaced during Tuesday's friendly, and Sean Raggett, who is currently out injured with a back injury, the natural players left in that position at Fratton Park.

Other defenders Cowley has cast an eye over this summer include Andre Wisdom, with the total number of trialists who have spent time with the club this summer reaching eight.