Football Season Guide

All is not well on the South Coast as Portsmouth head into another season looking to find their way out of League One. Danny Cowley replaced the unpopular Kenny Jackett for the last month of the 2020/21 season but the side he inherited missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the campaign. They finished with one more point this time around but it only earned them a 10th placed finish. This represents another year of failure for Portsmouth fans but Cowley has avoided most of the blame, with owner Michael Eisner being held responsible for not giving him the financial support to compete with their promotion rivals. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will take some replacing having enjoyed a spectacular season whilst on loan from Manchester City, although joining bitter rivals Southampton this summer won’t have improved his popularity. Josh Griffiths has joined on a season-long loan from West Bromwich Albion, could be a shrewd addition. The experienced Marlon Pack will strengthen the midfield after returning from Bristol City whilst striker Joe Pigott has arrived as part of the deal that saw last season’s key man Marcus Harness sold to promotion rivals Ipswich Town. He has only signed on a season-long loan however which was seen as yet more evidence of Eisner’s lack of ambition. The owner has countered those accusations by signing off on a deal to bring Accrington Stanley striker Colby Bishop to Fratton Park for a cool half-a-million pounds. It is certainly a statement signing and will give the Pompey faithful some much-needed optimism.