Catlin: Transfer-listed trio may still have Pompey future

The Pompey careers of transfer-listed Matt Tubbs, Adam McGurk and Kal Naismith are not at an end.
Kal Naismith, along with Adam McGurk and Matt Tubbs, has been transfer-listed by Pompey Picture: Joe PeplerKal Naismith, along with Adam McGurk and Matt Tubbs, has been transfer-listed by Pompey Picture: Joe Pepler
Kal Naismith, along with Adam McGurk and Matt Tubbs, has been transfer-listed by Pompey Picture: Joe Pepler

That is the pledge from chief executive Mark Catlin, who is adamant the three could still have a part to play at Fratton Park.

Manager Paul Cook has declared the attacking trio available for transfer as he seeks to create space within his budget for fresh recruits.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tubbs has long been out-of-favour, while McGurk and Naismith have failed to convince Cook, despite both featuring in the play-off semi-final against Plymouth.

All remain contracted to the Blues for a minimum of 12 months, with Naismith weighing in at two years.

As a result, the club are seeking a fee in their attempts to move the trio on.

But the Pompey chief insists they may still have a future at the club.

Catlin said: ‘This is 100 per cent the manager’s decision.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Paul has also been eager to point out he still values all three transfer-listed players and they will only leave if it is a deal which suits both player and club.

‘It may not necessarily be the end of them and Paul will use an example of Sam Hird at Chesterfield.

‘He transfer-listed him, but didn’t leave the club and ended up becoming a regular, this year named as their player of the season.

‘John-Joe O’Toole at Northampton was the same. He was transfer-listed last summer and look at the season he had.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘If they don’t go they are still very much part of our plans for the future.

‘Until the day they leave they are there in the budget and part of Paul’s plans for the future.

‘They are assets of Portsmouth Football Club and I am sure will come back for pre-season and be treated just like everyone else.

‘There can still be a future for them here. For the three to leave it has to be the right deal for the player and the football club as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘They are contracted so there is a financial commitment from Portsmouth Football Club to honour their contract and as such are assets of the business.’

Should there fail to be interest in the trio over the summer, the alternative could be a mutually-agreed release.

The likes of James Dunne and Nigel Atangana departed on such terms in January.

However, Catlin is wary of negotiating a similar deal with Tubbs, McGurk and Naismith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: ‘There is always the option on any player to cancel any contract by mutual consent, but I am not sure cancelling contracts will be in the best interests.

‘You try to avoid it, it is not an ideal situation.

‘Besides, a player really wants to know where they are going, not many want to be out of contract without a club.

‘You wouldn’t necessarily want to walk out of a job without somewhere else to go when you have stability for another year.’