Portsmouth Head Coach Makes Midfielder Transfer Admission

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has confirmed to The News that Oxford United attempted to sign midfielder Marlon Pack in the summer before he eventually made a return to Fratton Park. 

The 32-year-old became a free agent in the summer following three successful years at Cardiff City in the Championship, with Pack going on to make 109 appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring on five occasions and assisting a further ten times.

In the summer, with Pack out of contract at the Cardiff City Stadium, that left a race for his signature with the likes of Portsmouth, Bristol City, Shrewsbury Town and Derby County all interested in enquiring about the services of the 32-year-old, with the Rams reportedly prepared to better Pompey’s offer to make the deal happen.

In the end, the former Bristol City midfielder decided to make a return to boyhood club Portsmouth and has gone on to make 30 appearances for the club in all competitions this season, with Pack scoring twice and assisting five times for the club since his return.

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Pack re-joined the club under the management of Danny Cowley but following a poor run of form, Cowley was eventually let go in early January, with Mousinho the man to replace him as he jumped into his first managerial role following his departure from Oxford United.

Following Pack’s return to Fratton Park, Portsmouth currently find themselves ninth in the League One table with seven games to go, with Mousinho’s side sitting three points behind Peterborough United in the final playoff place.

Speaking to The News, Pompey head coach Mousinho confirmed that when he was back at Oxford United earlier in the season, the club did everything they could to take Marlon Pack to the Kassam Stadium, before the experienced midfielder decided to make a return to Portsmouth in a move that, in the end, pleases the 36-year-old as to how everything eventually played out.

“I guess it was a no-brainer for Marlon (Pack) to come here because of his connections to Portsmouth, and the size of the club and what it offers in terms of prestige and history,” he said.

“At the time I would’ve been upset about it, but now I’m really pleased he chose to come here. I know everything about Marlon from knowing his career and playing with him.

“I’ve got all the angles. I played with him, tried to recruit him and I am now lucky enough to coach him as well.”

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Writers View

With Marlon Pack apparently high on Oxford’s shopping list last summer, I’m sure that there would have been a sense of disappointment that the former Cardiff City and Bristol City midfielder decided not to sign for them and instead made a return to Portsmouth where he first started his career.

Even though John Mousinho might have been disappointed at the fact that he could not quite get Pack to the Kassam Stadium, it has all worked out brilliantly in the end as he knows exactly what Pack is all about and what he can bring to his Portsmouth side.

What was Oxford’s loss was definitely Portsmouth’s gain however, with Pack going on to enjoy a stellar season at Fratton Park as the club looks to break into the playoff places to fight for a return to the Championship. 

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