BREAKING: Ex-Fulham, Gillingham and Bradford man rewarded for impressive Portsmouth impact with permanent first-team role

The former Fulham and Bradford defender arrived at Fratton Park as the Academy’s lead professional development phase coach in the summer.

However, at the turn of the year he stepped up to the first-team on a temporary basis to assist Simon Bassey, following the dismissal of Danny and Nicky Cowley.

The 39-year-old retained his role upon John Mousinho’s appointment as head coach and subsequently established himself as a key backroom presence.

Now Rehman has been announced as first-team development coach and will remain part of Mousinho’s team instead of returning to the Academy.

He will join assistant manager John Harley, goalkeeping coach Joe Prodomo and head performance analyst Dan Ashby.

Since Mousinho’s arrival at Fratton Park, the Blues have won eight out of 14 matches, taking 26 points, to lift themselves into ninth in League One.