Pompey Receive Welcome Boost

After spending so much of last season in limbo, Portsmouth fans would have been hoping stability would have been achieved by the beginning of this season. That hasn’t been the case and Pompey are still in administration. The South Coast club are subsequently under a transfer embargo. They have received special dispensation to sign three players. This was given because Portsmouth only had 17 senior players in their squad three short of the 20 man minimum. The three players signed were Jamie Ashdown, Stephen Jordan and Ibrahima Sonko.

Goalkeeper Ashdown re-signs for the club, a month after his contract expired at Fratton Park. He will be Portsmouth’s first choice keeper after David James left the club. Stephen Jordan will join the club on a trail period. The defender is a free agent after his Burnley contract expired. Jordan made 23 appearances for Burnley last season in the Premier League and will be hoping to impress Pompey manager Steve Cotterill.

The biggest signing will be that of Stoke centre back Sonko, who has joined on a season long loan. The defender made only one appearance for Stoke last year, after dropping down the pecking order at the Britannia Stadium. He played nine games for Hull during a loan spell in the second half of last season. The powerful defender will be a good signing for Cotterill, who will have to operate on a shoe string throughout the season.

This season is all about stability for Portsmouth. It’s doubtful they will have the resources to challenge for promotion this season and the championship odds reflect this.

You might even hesitate to place a Carling Cup bet on them winning their first round tie against Stevenage in a couple of weeks.

First and foremost though, it is important that they don’t suffer back to back relegations. That could be a fall too far for the struggling club.