Having been promoted up to the second tier as champions, there’s is plenty of hope that Portsmouth can continue their upward trajectory next term.
So far, they’ve managed to hold onto the bulk of the squad, yet will need to bring a few new faces through the doors of Fratton Park if they want to be competitive in the Championship. With a lower budget than many of their competitions, they may well need to utilise the loan market, which they have successfully used in previous seasons.
Experience is also needed however, and can make a rather substantial difference. They do already have a couple of key figures in the dressing room already who have previous Championship experience though, one of those being club captain Marlon Pack.
Pack has 271 Championship appearances to his name and is one of the most experienced players in the dressing room. He was a key figure during Pompey’s promotion season, leading the side out and ultimately to glory. The 33-year-old would appear 38 times in the league, putting up three goals and nine assists from the centre of midfield.
Most commonly deployed as a more defensive midfielder, Pack has been key to Portsmouth’s recent success but he is however out of contract at Fratton Park this summer. There were questions as to whether he’d extend his stay and those questions have now been answered.
The News would report on Friday morning that the club and the player are closing in on a contract extension. Talks have been ongoing since the commencement of the season but it now seems as if a deal has been agreed.
It’s a rather large boost for Portsmouth, who will be retaining a key leader who has a plethora of experience to draw upon. Everything points to Pack being a significant figure at the club again next season, and fans will be delighted with an agreement being reached.
Pack would scoop up a whole host of personal accolades as well as being named in the League One team of the season and despite the fact that he is now getting on a bit, he’s by no means slowing down.
Writer’s View
Portsmouth will be looking to continue their momentum pitched into the Championship next season and the signing of Pack certainly aids their cause. His leadership qualities and experience will greatly help the side navigate the second tier and he could once again play a starring role.
Although survival will be the first goal, John Mousinho may well be targeting a top-half finish which isn’t by any means out of question. Brining in a couple of quality additions, to add to an already strong squad, should give Portsmouth a great chance of doing just that and they are capable of establishing themselves as a Championship mainstay if everything falls into place.
