Portsmouth

  3. Odin Bailey in action for Stockport County.

  5. John Mousinho looks on from the sidelines

  7. Mousinho shows rare honesty about Robins' approach

    Andrew Moon
    BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

    John Mousinho: "Bristol City spoke to my agent"

    There is always a lot to discuss on the opening day of pre-season but today's interview by John Mousinho with BBC Radio Solent was particularly fascinating.

    His honesty over what happened regarding the Bristol City management job is rare in football.

    Yes, there was interest, but it did not get beyond Bristol City speaking to Mousinho's agent, according to the Portsmouth boss.

    It is interesting, given their respective CVs, that the opening was offered to Lincoln City's Michael Skubala, who accepted, and - reportedly - Bournemouth coach Tommy Elphick ahead of Mousinho.

    The playing budget will increase for next season and Pompey are set to spend more than in previous summers.

    There will have to be departures. Mousinho far from guaranteed that Colby Bishop will remain a Pompey player this summer. Free-agent midfielder Archie Collins can be crossed off the list of potential targets, Mousinho says.

    He would not be drawn on what could be achieved this season, instead suggesting we will have a better idea at the start of the campaign.

    There might not be any matches but July is a big month for Portsmouth. Recruiting well will certainly help ensure that, even if another club come calling for their head coach, Pompey might be able to hold on to Mousinho for a while longer.

  9. The biggest dates on the calendar are...

    The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you have got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

    Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

    • 15 August 2026 - QPR (H)

    • 10 October 2026 - Southampton (A)

    • 24 October 2026 - Millwall (H)

    • 26 December 2026 - Watford (H)

    • 29 December 2026 - Millwall (A)

    • 1 January 2027 - Birmingham City (A)

    • 27 February 2027 - Southampton (H)

    • 1 May 2027 - West Ham (A)

    See Portsmouth's full fixture list here.

    An image detailing how to follow your Championship team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.

  10. EFL Football

  11. West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo consoles midfielder Tomas Soucek after their relegation from the Premier League

  12. Andrew Cullen applauds the players at Fratton Park

  13. Zak Swanson in action for Porsmouth wearing a royal blue Pompey playing shirt

  15. Fixture day is almost upon us...

    The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

    Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

    The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

    So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

    An image detailing how to follow your Championship team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.

  18. Southampton's James Bree (left) and Portsmouth's Millenic Alli battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at Fratton Park, Portsmouth. Picture date: Sunday January 25, 2026.

  19. The Championship trophy on a stand with sky blue and white ribbons at Coventry City's home stadium before their game with Wrexham in April.

  21. Connor Ogilvie

  22. Portsmouth need to 'nail' the summer transfer window

    Andrew Moon
    BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

    Portsmouth boss John Mousinho wearing a black short sleeved top applauding supporters after a win at MiddlesbroughGetty Images

    John Mousinho has been in charge of Pompey since January 2023

    Can Portsmouth nail the summer transfer window?

    They certainly did in John Mousinho and Richard Hughes' first summer together in 2023, constructing a squad that won promotion from League One.

    Three of last season's first choice back four arrived in that summer. The past two years have been more of a mixed bag, with Championship survival requiring good January windows.

    They still need to secure their own free agents. New deals have been offered to Zak Swanson and Connor Ogilvie but no announcements have been made. It is understood the club remain confident that both will be Pompey players again next season.

    That would take the squad up to 25 senior players, effectively needing someone to leave for every player over the age of 21 coming in. Given there is plenty of strengthening required this is likely to mean a good few departures.

    Terry Devlin was courted by Wrexham in January and there remains every chance Pompey's player of the season will be off. That move would boost Portsmouth's spending power. It will be interesting to see if Adrian Segecic's excellent end to the season attracts any suitors.

    Ibane Bowat made some key contributions last season but was down the pecking order of centre-backs. He turns 24 in September and needs regular football. Jordan Williams has impressed at times at Fratton Park but also will want more league starts than he got last season.

    Luke Le Roux had a difficult first season but may get another chance. Harvey Blair has so far failed to deliver on his undoubted potential. Makenzie Kirk needs a loan to get more opportunities. More ruthless moves might be required to make space.

    In terms of additions there are clear priorities. Portsmouth never successfully replaced Matt Ritchie on the right wing, they must do this summer. A partner who compliments Ebou Adams is needed in midfield, although it would be naive to write off Marlon Pack making a number of contributions again.

    Strikers are usually the hardest position to find but Pompey have to have one ready to start on the opening day if Colby Bishop cannot rediscover the form he showed prior to last season.

    Sporting director Hughes has already said the return of last season's loanee Conor Chaplin is unlikely. It is understood the futures of loan wingers Millenic Alli and Gustavo Cabellero are most likely to lie away from Fratton Park.

    Pompey fans love a returning former player but free agents Jed Wallace and Adam Webster are unlikely to join.

    Abu Kamara has become the Ben Thompson for a new generation - a player who had an excellent loan spell but is probably destined for that to be the extent of their Pompey career. That won't stop his name constantly being brought up on social media.

    Perhaps most crucially though it appears Portsmouth will hang on to their highly-rated head coach Mousinho. One day surely someone will poach him but Pompey fans are extremely relieved it is yet to happen.

  23. Suzanne Cook walking towards two teams of footballers who are stood on a pitch in front of a football goal.

  24. David James in Peterborough. He is wearing a green and white fleece. He has short dark hair and a very short beard and is smiling broadly. Behind him are various gazebos with people sitting or standing underneath them. Wording on a gazebo says "DONATE YOUR BOOTS HERE"

  25. 'A gentleman to deal with' - tribute to Jackett

    Andrew Moon
    BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

    An image of Kenny Jackett, wearing a black jacket with the Portsmouth crest on the front, looking pensive on the touchline at Fratton Park during Pompey's game against Wigan in September 2020Getty Images

    Kenny Jackett arrived at Fratton Park at a strange time.

    The club had just won promotion from League Two but manager Paul Cook had walked away to join Wigan Athletic.

    Michael Eisner's purchase of the club from the Pompey Supporters Trust was being completed. The League Two promotion side was breaking up, with key players Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle having already departed.

    For the first 18 months, Jackett did as well anyone possibly could have in the Pompey hotseat.

    In his first season, his newly-promoted side threatened the League One playoffs.

    In the second, the team were top at Christmas. Despite a memorable EFL Trophy final win over Sunderland in March, his team couldn't quite reach the Championship. The 88 points won that season was an excellent achievement. Promotion on a modest budget would have been a stunning effort.

    Jackett kept his emotions to himself. He would stand arms folded on the touchline deep in thought. He once explained he was always trying to think if he needed to change something or make a substitution. He seemed the calmest man in the stadium.

    It was difficult to get to know Kenny and to understand exactly what made him tick. He kept the media at arm's length, perhaps understandably so. But he also kept his players at a distance. Something he felt made it easier to make difficult decisions on who to play and when.

    Being distant to the media is different to being rude though.

    He was a gentleman to deal with, happy to answer absolutely any question thrown his way at length and always polite. Many interviews and press conferences are delayed or late. Not Kenny's. His weekly chat with the media started as the clock struck one. I genuinely cannot remember an occasion he was even five minutes late.

    He couldn't achieve his ultimate goal of winning promotion at Portsmouth but he did a better job than many give him credit for. His football wasn't always the prettiest but he knew how to organise a team.

    To manage in the EFL for nearly 20 years requires talent, determination and incredible mental strength. Kenny had those in abundance. His passing at the age of just 64 is a sad day.