Ex-Portsmouth chairman foresees more Fratton Park silverware

Iain McInnes was chairman under four years of fan ownership, culminating with the League Two title at an emotional Fratton Park in May 2017.

Shortly afterwards, the Blues were taken over by Tornante, with McInnes going on to become owner of Gosport Borough.

Pompey's placing at the top of League One is a far cry from languishing 90th in the Football League and embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation to the non-league.

McInnes witnessed such dark days '“ but is convinced the club's ongoing recovery will earn a return to the Championship at the season's end.

He said: '˜What they have got to do now is beat the boys of 2016-17.

'˜Looking at that division and they way they have quietly gone about strengthening the squad, I would have thought they ought to do that.'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹

'˜That day on Southsea Common, when we were finally presented with the trophy we should have had the day before, is something which will live with me for the rest of my life.

'˜Kenny has done a great job. Last season there were people who had their doubts, I saw a few games and thought 'I'm not sure about this', I didn't believe the team was as good as Cookie had.

'˜But this side is now strong, resilient, they go away from home and win games 1-0 when not playing very well, they dominate teams at Fratton Park. Kenny is a good, experienced manager and it's steady as you go.

'˜In fact, if it's steady as you go then they win the league. I'd love to see a second recent trophy alongside the one already there.

'˜I don't think it's a good division, and that doesn't take anything away from Pompey. You would expect Sunderland with their resources to be there or thereabouts, along with Pompey, they are the stand-out sides.

'˜Brett Pitman is on the bench and if Cookie had Pitman we would have gone up by Christmas, we never had somebody like that. That speaks volumes about the strength of this side.'

McInnes may now be stationed at Privett Park, but his heart remains at Fratton.

He added: '˜Gosport fans know full well there is only one team for me, always has been, always will be.

'˜I've come here to try to do something at a club which, in a much smaller way, mirrors what went on at Fratton Park it's untrue.

'˜I've even got the 1920s stand to spend fortunes on!'

Iain McInnes' honest insights into Pompey's fall and rise will appear throughout the week both in The News and at portsmouth.co.uk