Danny Cowley set for long-term Portsmouth stay
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The News understands the Blues head coach and brother Nicky Cowley look set to stay at Fratton Park for the long haul - even if a place in the play-offs isn’t reached this season.
The Cowleys have made an overwhelmingly positive impression since succeeding Kenny Jackett as manager last month.
They delivered four wins on the spin off the back of invigorating the first-team set-up, bringing an enthusiasm to the club and employing their brand of high-intensity football.
That strong impact has not been diluted by the downturn in results which have followed, as Pompey’s current squad imbalance has been exposed.
A top-six place always appeared the yardstick for the Cowleys coming into the Pompey job, with those ambitions alive but very much in the balance with four games remaining.
It now appears, however, that failing to make the play-offs will not be a decisive factor in the brothers staying moving forward.
The thoroughness of the pair as they’ve gone about their work has impressed the club’s owners and board, as has the manner in which they’ve laid down detailed on-the-pitch plans in a range of meetings.
Crucially, however, it’s the way in which they’ve galvanised the Pompey fanbase who’ve been won over by their approach, which could be the key issue in the Cowleys remaining.
The club had privately indicated they would always weigh up how Jackett’s successor was received by supporters when considering the path forward, before Cowley was named as head coach until the end of the campaign.
The 42-year-old’s openness and ability to grasp the essence of what the Fratton faithful demand has certainly been central to the favourable reception - and now a likely extended stay.
Much of the fan criticism in recent games has centred on the players the Cowleys inherited failing to deliver this season, rather than the management team.
Pompey have 11 players out of contract this summer, although they have options on those men with the exceptions of Tom Naylor and Jack Whatmough.
That points towards a summer overhaul for the Cowleys to carry out, although with it not clear which division the Blues will be in there is still a lack of an understandable lack of clarity on that front at present.
For now, however, the focus will be on finishing the season as strongly as possible before the new management team can start their long-term structuring in earnest.
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