Ashley Brown reflects on 'costly process' of ripping up a Portsmouth managerial team

And Ashley Brown can empathise with Pompey’s reasoning for sticking by under-fire Kenny Jackett during the testing financial climate.

It is understood the Fratton hierarchy are disappointed with the start to the League One campaign – but consider it too early to implement change.

In addition, it is believed it would cost in the region of £400,000 to cancel the contact of Jackett.

In financially-hit times, clubs can ill-afford spending money on ripping up a managerial team and coaching staff.

A factor appreciated by Brown, who sat on Pompey’s board for four years during the reigns of Guy Whittingham, Richie Barker, Andy Awford and Paul Cook.

He told The News: ‘If you are running a football club as a sustainable business and keeping an eye on the profit and loss, you've got to balance up a whole host of different elements to come to the right decisions.

‘What’s happening on the pitch is clearly important, but there are costs associated with making changes.

‘It’s very easy to look at it in black and white – I'm sure the board of Portsmouth Football Club assess many areas when making all decisions.

‘In football, players and managers have very strong water-tight contracts and if you want to break them you are expected to either pay them out or come to a compromise agreement.

‘Also, managers tend to come and go with an entourage of people.

‘With any manager coming in, that is likely to be part of their negotiation. They will expect to bring some of their team in.

‘It can be as much a part of the negotiation as how much you are going to pay them – and it can be a costly process.’

A former Pompey Supporters’ Trust chairman, Brown remains on their board while serving as the Football Supporters’ Association’s head of governance.

He left the Fratton Park boardroom following the August 2017 ownership handover to Tornante.

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