Boss: I understand fans' frustration

A smattering of boos were heard at the final whistle in the wake of the home defeat to Fleetwood Town, while plenty of Blues fans took to social media after the miserable 4-2 defeat at York City to question the manager’s position.

While many are still fully behind Whittingham and are prepared to give him time to get it right, he believes the supporters have every right to complain – even if it’s directed at him.

And it will not stop him from showing his appreciation of the support.

Whittingham said: ‘The fans pay their money to watch and they have got a right to express themselves.

‘If they feel like they want to boo, that’s up to them.

‘If they want to do that, I’m not going to complain.

‘They have put their money into the club and they are entitled to lay it out if they’re frustrated. I can’t blame them.

‘I always go round and applaud them at the end of the game because they give us terrific support.

‘I’ll always still do that, even if they are booing me because I appreciate what they have done for this club. The players and the staff all appreciate it.’

Supporters have turned on the team only on the rarest of occasions in recent history.

But many still remember the infamous home defeat to Crystal Palace back in May 2001 and the chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ as Pompey appeared to be heading for relegation.

Even despite the club’s troubles and subsequent results, the team has received great backing but Whittingham feels frustration is the key factor.

He said: ‘It’s probably more of a frustration thing.

‘I don’t think the fans have ever turned on us in a game.

‘Last season, they booed us off a couple of times at half-time and they had every right.

‘All they need to know is we are trying to do everything we can to entertain them here but also to win games.’