Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes reveals the club has increased its budget and will look to buy players in the transfer window, with quotes from The News.
The Pompey chief has claimed chairman Micheal Eisner is ready to improve the club’s financial strength and has given the green light for Hughes, and manager John Mousinho to buy players instead of relying on free agents and loans.
Who Is Richard Hughes
The 34-year-old joined the club in October, leaving his previous role as director of football at Forest Green Rovers to become Pompey’s sporting director. Overseeing recruitment and football operations, Hughes played a heavy part in helping Forest Green secure promotion to League One during his time there.
Now in a similar role at Portsmouth, Hughes is entering his first summer transfer window with the South Coast club, as they begin their seventh consecutive season in the third division of English Football.
Will Pompey Benefit From Extra Money?
While football increasingly looks easier if more money is spent, that doesn’t work in all circumstances. Recruiting players has to be done correctly in order for them to work on the pitch, and money doesn’t always help with that.
However, with a cemented board, having the financial strength to buy players that fit the club’s model should help. Instead of looking at free agents or loans, Portsmouth can have the ability to recruit higher-rated players that they might not have been able to before.
This extra power should open more doors for Portsmouth to look through and could help them on their quest for promotion back to the Championship.
What’s Been Said:
Speaking to The News about Portsmouth’s plans for the summer, Hughes revealed the club has a competitive budget and detailed his relationship with the owners.
“We’ve not had a mid-table budget, it’s a really competitive budget.” Hughes added. “Next season’s budget is still to be decided, but it’s looking like it is going to be higher.
“I can’t talk about what has gone before, but, from my experience and dealings with the owners, when we asked them to buy players and put money into the budget, they were more than forthcoming.
“The owners want to see progress on the pitch, they want to see us being successful as an organisation, and are happy to back that. I think a budget increase will probably be the case.
“The owners have been brilliant, they trust what we are trying to do and what we are attempting to build.
“We are not just working on free agents and loans, we have the opportunity to buy players should the right ones become available for us.”
Writer’s View
The news of an increased budget should give hope to Portsmouth fans, who have suffered over the last few years. After a strong finish to the season and Hughes being given a loose lease to work with, expectations of playoffs may start to heat up if Pompey can bring the right players in.
