Has Ritchie's time at Pompey come to an end?published at 15:59
15:59
Andrew Moon BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, Andrew Moon
After four days of intense work in their pre-season training camp, the Pompey squad were given some down time.
Some of the players headed into Bratislava's old town, while others made use of the spa in the hotel. The coaching staff opted for a bike ride.
I even managed a gentle run along the River Danube behind the hotel which separates Slovakia from Hungary.
Winger Matt Ritchie is not here in Slovakia and it appears his second Pompey spell could be coming to an end.
The squad are holding an open training session for fans tomorrow morning. Head Coach John Mousinho will speak to the media after the session, which should provide clarity on the Ritchie situation.
Got questions, Pompey fans? Here's where you can get answerspublished at 11:20
11:20
BBC Radio Solent are hosting a fan forum for Pompey supporters on Monday 4 August and would love you to come along.
The panel - chief executive Andy Cullen, men's head coach John Mousinho, women's head coach Jay Sadler and a men's first-team player will face an hour of fans questions at the Victory Suite at Fratton Park from 19:00 BST.
The best part? It comes at no cost, just email Solent.Sport@bbc.co.uk to claim your free tickets (maximum of four per person).
If you can't make it in person, no problem. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Solent and BBC Sounds.
'I've cultivated this envy inside' - Bowatpublished at 10:05
10:05
Media caption,
Defender Ibane Bowat discusses his serious injury and hopes for the season
Portsmouth defender Ibane Bowat says he has a feeling of "envy" after having been sidelined last season with a knee injury.
The Scotland Under-21 international joined Pompey in August 2024 but has yet to make an appearance for his new club after suffering a tendon tear in his right knee the following month.
"Having been on the side for so long, I've cultivated this envy inside me," Bowat told BBC Radio Solent.
"Hearing and feeling that atmosphere at Fratton Park is incredible, I've not really seen it at any other stadiums like that.
"So to be able to step on that pitch is a feeling I'm really looking forward to."
The 22-year-old admits it's difficult to put a timeline on his recovery but "hopes" to be given the all-clear for Pompey's first game of the season against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
He added: "I've been speaking with the doctors and the physio staff and they are quite confident that it can happen.
"If everything keeps on going smoothly then hopefully I'll be fit and ready."
Pompey not short on numbers but need morepublished at 16:18 8 July
16:18 8 July
Andrew Moon BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, Andrew Moon
There's no sign of the British heat wave in Slovakia. Today is the second consecutive day Portsmouth have trained in the gloom and rain - not the 35 degree temperatures usually found on pre-season trips.
Portsmouth have two trialists with the group, former West Brom and Crystal Palace defender Nathan Ferguson and goalkeeper Stuart Moore.
They aren't quite short of numbers but do need further additions in the coming weeks.
Adrian Segecic is the only new face to join this summer and he looked sharp in training today.
Pre-season can be hard work. Some of the players have done two training sessions on the grass and a gym session today.
'Players want to fight for Mousinho' - Segecicpublished at 11:16 8 July
11:16 8 July
Media caption,
Adrian Segecic discusses his move to Pompey
Portsmouth forward Adrian Segecic says that boss John Mousinho gave him "goosebumps" when persuading him to move to England.
The Australian became Pompey's first signing of the summer in June when he joined from A League side Sydney FC.
"When I spoke to [Mousinho], the thing that caught me is how you've just got to look at a manager and know that you just want to fight for him," Segecic told BBC Radio Solent.
"He gave me goosebumps and I thought that's a manager who is going to get the best out of me."
It is the 21-year-old's first transfer having moved up into Sydney FC's first team in 2023 from their under-21's squad.
"It was a big moment. It was the first time I could say in the last nine years that I've changed clubs now," Segecic added.
"I had a good season and a lot of clubs I talked to but there was just something about Pompey I was drawn to."
New date confirmed for south-coast derbypublished at 12:24 4 July
12:24 4 July
Image source, Rex Features
A new date has been confirmed for the first south-coast derby of next season between Southampton and Portsmouth.
St Mary's will host the first meeting between the two teams, on Sunday 14 September - the match was initially scheduled for the Saturday.
The second league game, which will be held at Pompey's Fratton Park, is currently set for the end of January.
Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season, while Pompey finished 16th in the Championship.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since 2019, when Southampton won at Fratton Park in the League Cup, and the first league match since 2012.
Mousinho wants 'five or six' more Pompey signingspublished at 15:48 2 July
15:48 2 July
Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,
John Mousinho is heading into his third full season as Portsmouth boss
Portsmouth still want five or six more new additions to their squad for the new Championship season but they may not happen quickly, says boss John Mousinho.
Pompey have so far signed only forward Adrian Segecic from Sydney FC this summer and Mousinho is willing to be patient in his search for further new recruits.
"It's been relatively slow in the Championship - it's a strange season because there are still Premier League clubs playing in the Club World Cup which is more like an extension of the 2024-25 season," he told BBC Radio Solent.
"Combine that with the under-19s and under-21s (European Championships) it means movement in the market around the Championship is very slow but I expect that to pick up in the next couple of weeks."
After a slow start last season where Portsmouth failed to win any of their opening nine league games they went on to finish 16th in the table and the head coach is predicting a quieter time in the transfer window.
"It won't be anywhere near as busy as it was for the previous couple of summers but if we make five or six more additions we'll be there," he added.
Portsmouth open the new Championship campaign at Oxford United - the club with whom Mousinho ended his playing career - on 9 August.
'Fratton Park a fortress but away form needs a boost'published at 11:54 30 June
11:54 30 June
Media caption,
Neil Allen: 'Make Fratton Park a fortress again'
The News' chief sports writer Neil Allen says Fratton Park helped Portsmouth through their "baptism of fire" last season - but the club need to string together some away wins in their upcoming second season in the Championship.
Pompey won 11 home games in the second tier last season compared to just three on the road.
"We saw how massive Fratton Park was for Pompey because of the atmosphere, the support, the rapport between the team and the fans. Pompey were beating people left, right and centre there," Allen told BBC Radio Solent.
"Leeds lost there. Burnley drew there. Sheffield United drew there. It was a real fortress.
"But they also need to dramatically improve their away form, with three away wins all season, which is terrible and that's in all competitions as well."
Portsmouth will begin the 2024-25 season with a trip to Oxford United before hosting Norwich City in their first home game the following week.
Gossip: Pompey set to complete Segecic signing published at 12:07 17 June
12:07 17 June
Portsmouth are set to complete the signing of Australian attacking midfielder Adrian Segecic, 21, who scored 13 goals in 24 A-League games for Sydney FC in 2024-25. (The News), external
Gossip: Pompey keen on Swift and Segecicpublished at 12:39 16 June
12:39 16 June
Portsmouth are keen on signing former youth player John Swift, 29, after he was released by West Bromwich Albion, while Pompey are also eyeing a move for winger Adrian Segecic, 21, from Australian A-League side Sydney FC. (The News), external
Lions up, Watford down? The 2025 Championship tablepublished at 12:37 10 June
12:37 10 June
Ben Ashton BBC Sport England
Image source, Getty Images
Watford are getting relegated, Plymouth are staying up, Millwall are in the play-offs and Portsmouth are also battling for a top-six spot.
Does something sound a bit off? Well, that's what would have happened if the Championship season started on 1 January.
Here's a look at the 2025 calendar year table, showing who the form sides were in the second half of the season and who went into freefall.
Perhaps the most notable difference between the actual final top six and the 2025 version is that Millwall would be in the play-offs and Premier League-bound Sunderland would not.
Burnley and Leeds still comfortably occupy the automatic promotion spots, albeit the Clarets would be unbeaten at the top of the pile with the Whites in second.
Coventry improved significantly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins and are third over the course of the year.
The Sky Blues would instead be pitted against Bristol City in the play-off semi-final as opposed to Sunderland. Who knows what difference that would have made to their promotion bid...
Image source, Rex Features
Portsmouth - who spent much of the season battling relegation and only secured their Championship safety with two games to spare - are seventh and just one point outside a play-off spot.
Pompey sit above Sunderland, who lost their final five games of the season and are down in eighth.
The data perhaps shows just how long Regis Le Bris' side effectively had a play-off spot sewn up before their victory at Wembley against Sheffield United to claim promotion.
Relegation battlers Oxford find themselves seven places higher than where they actually finished in the 2024-25 campaign (17th), reflecting the good work done by Gary Rowett after he took over as boss from Des Buckingham.
Image source, Rex Features
Plymouth would have survived comfortably had the season begun in January 2025, showing a significant uptick after Miron Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the helm.
Middlesbrough tailed off significantly in the second half of the season, underpinning why they missed out on the play-offs. It was a drop off that ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job as head coach.
Norwich City conceded more goals (32) than any other side in 2025, which counteracted the hard work they'd done at the other end, having been the fourth top scorers (31) since the turn of the year.
Image source, Rex Features
Watford had a disappointing 2025, winning just five of their 23 games and losing 13 to finish bottom of the calendar year table.
The Hornets had the joint-worst goal difference along with Cardiff (-10) and head coach Tom Cleverley was sacked following the end of the season.
Preston and Cardiff won the fewest games of any side in 2025 (4), which cost the Bluebirds their Championship status and almost led to the Lilywhites dropping into League One as they avoided relegation by one point.
Paul Heckingbottom's side would be down if only games this year were counted.
Luton and Derby scored the fewest goals in 2025 (19) and attacking output was an issue that plagued both sides throughout the entire campaign.
It had major consequences for the Hatters with back-to-back relegations, while the Rams survived by a point - and only on goal difference in the yearly table.
What transfers Portsmouth need this summerpublished at 18:18 30 May
18:18 30 May
Andrew Moon BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, Getty Images
Are Portsmouth a year wiser with a squad that has learned about the Championship or could we see second season syndrome?
They will be hoping it is more of the former next season, so what transfers are required this summer to ensure a successful campaign?
It is worth reflecting on last summer's recruitment - that window was heavily criticised after the poor start to the season.
Elias Sorensen was not up to the Championship, Abdoulaye Kamara has barely featured and Harvey Blair also struggled to adjust to the level. I had forgotten Sammy Silvera had even been a Pompey player.
Ibane Bowat and Jacob Farrell managed just a solitary game between them because of injury and this is a big pre-season ahead for both.
A year on though and it actually looks a fairly decent window.
Josh Murphy was a brilliant free agent signing. The £300,000 for Nicolas Schmid looks an absolute bargain, Matt Ritchie made some telling contributions and Freddie Potts was one of the best loans in recent years.
Add to that a January window where Pompey got exactly what they needed and sporting director Rich Hughes and the recruitment team can feel satisfied.
So what does this summer have in store?
The budget will be increasing however it is still likely to be one of the lowest in the Championship.
Promotion for big spending Birmingham City and Wrexham does not help. It might mean looking abroad for new arrivals, something Pompey have increasingly done in recent windows.
There are areas which are fairly settled and if Ben Killip signs a new deal the goalkeeping position is sorted.
We know the Blues would love to sign Rob Atkinson permanently. If Atkinson was to arrive the defence would be sorted. Tom McIntyre and Ryley Towler are both likely to be allowed to leave and there will be a queue of suitors for the latter.
Midfield will need some work with at least two new central midfielders required. Finding Championship quality starters is challenging and it is unlikely there will be a loan option with as much experience as Potts had in League One.
Signing under-21 players from Premier League clubs with minimal first team games is a big gamble. The free agent market is also much smaller in the Championship than League One.
Avenues that have worked for the past couple of summers might not work this time around.
Colby Bishop, Murphy and Callum Lang will all be pencilled in to start next season.
Image source, Andrew Moon
