Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has revealed that he has no intention of leaving Fratton Park after clinching the League One title last night.
The 37-year-old emerged as a shock appointment for the south-coast based side in January 2023, leaving his playing role at Oxford United to take up the position from the departed Danny Cowley. He steadied the ship during the latter part of the 2022/23 season, eventually securing an eighth-placed finish.
Promotion was the target this season, with Pompey hoping to return to the Championship for the first time since 2012. Last night, Mousinho achieved that aim in dramatic circumstances with a 3-2 win over Barnsley, prompting wild celebrations from the home support.
In truth, Portsmouth have long looked a team that were too good for this division. Apart from a brief stint in November, they have topped the table since the early stages of the campaign and they can now look forward to cementing their place in the second tier.
Their achievements were compounded last week when the young boss was crowned the EFL League One Manager of the Season.
That’s how you celebrate a league title 💪#Pompey https://t.co/ZOIFgh2sAf
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) April 16, 2024
The summer is likely to see the usual merry-go-round of managers. Some clubs may take the decision to make a change in the hope of improving their fortunes next season. Mousinho is a man likely to be linked with any Championship vacancies, although it’s not something the former defender is willing to consider:
“For me, leaving is something which is absolutely well off my radar,” he told The News, Portsmouth. “No disrespect to other football clubs in League One, but there are very few that can step up to the next level and go again.
“I’m not saying we’re going to do that next season, but I know it’s a football club which can consolidate in the Championship and, at some point, hopefully push to be a bit further up the league.
“I have spoken to the owners and the ambition is to be a Premier league club. I know that’s everyone’s ambition, but the set-up and the way the club goes about its business – buying the training ground, investing a huge amount at Fratton Park, investing in players and young players – I know that’s something the football club can do.
“I absolutely love the structure here, I love the day to day, I love working with the people here, leaving is as far away from my mind as possible.”
Mousinho penned a three-and-a-half-year deal when he took the role last year, with two years left to run. Meanwhile, Portsmouth can head into their final two games of the season against Wigan Athletic and Lincoln City in party mode. With promotion secured, they will now be targeting two more wins which would see them hit the 100-point barrier.
Writer’s View
John Mousinho leaving Portsmouth was never on the cards this summer, but his words will give the supporters a degree of satisfaction. With Kieran McKenna’s antics at Ipswich Town now attracting Premier League interest, there may have been a worry that other clubs may be looking to Fratton Park for a young up-and-coming manager that could emulate their success.
It appears as if his ambitions match those of the club, with Pompey hoping to break back into the top tier for the first time since 2010. Realistically though, that will be the long-term aim and next season will be about cementing their position in the Championship. A top half finish could be possible.
