Football Season Guide

Danny Cowley faces arguably the biggest task of his managerial career as he looks to turn around the fortunes of Portsmouth. He certainly isn’t afraid of a challenge having taken Concord Rangers from the Essex Senior League to the National League South. His latest challenge involves almost completely rebuilding his squad in the midst of a toxic environment. The abject final day failure to make the play-offs saw fans vent their fury at the players and several have opted to move on for pastures new. Despite claims to the contrary, some of them will be missed, not least goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, who has joined Charlton Athletic. Abusive racist messages aimed at England players from several academy players following the Euro 2020 final brought the club into further disrepute and winger Ronan Curtis has made his pending move away from Fratton Park all the more messy with some unnecessary public utterances. More out of necessity than design, Cowley has taken on a whole host of trialists, leading to the signings of strikers Gassan Ahadme and Jayden Reid. The latter had two rather disappointing loan spells with Barrow and Walsall in League Two last season. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has arrived on a season-loan from Manchester City, but he too had a disappointing year on loan at relegated Rochdale and it doesn’t bode well for the new season with the return of expectant fans to Fratton Park, who will be short on patience and ready to vent their spleens.