Danny Cowley details 'really enjoyable' talks with Portsmouth head of recruitment Phil Boardman amid transfer meeting

Boardman has kept his place in the Blues' backroom staff following the departure of former manager Kenny Jackett

Since arriving in 2017, he has scouted the likes of Ronan Curtis, Andy Cannon and Callum Johnson ahead of their moves to Fratton Park.

Cowley met with Boardman today, along with head of European scouting Roberto Gagliardi, to discuss Pompey's formative summer transfer window plans.

And the Blues head coach revealed that Lincoln head scout Mark Tracy, who Cowley worked with at Sincil Bank, has already given Boardman a ringing endorsement.

Cowley told The News: ‘We spoke to Phil on Sunday via Zoom, spoke to him after watching the Burton v Shrewsbury game and then he came down Wednesday morning watching training and getting a real feel for the way we work.

‘We had a good conversation on what we like then met with him yesterday along with Roberto.

‘For us, we want to get that alignment as quick as we can because it'll help us make some clear and consistent decisions.

‘Everyone I speak to about Phil only has the best things to say and I've really enjoyed the conversations we have had.

‘I love football and love the scouts to get out and get to games. I always enjoy chats with scouts late at night and always think: "Who can I talk football with?"

‘I've usually spoken to Nicky all day about football so in the evening, scouts are usually travelling on the way home from games.

‘I spoke to Mark Tracy at Lincoln, who's a great scout and he said to me that he sees Phil every week, at every game.

‘That made me feel at ease straight away because I know he's willing to do the hard yards you need to.

‘You get a lot of recruitment guys who want to watch clips on WyScout. While there is a place for it, there is no substitute for me other than to get to games live, watch the warm-ups and the behaviour.’

Cowley now has to make it clear to Boardman about the sort of players he will be looking in the summer for if his short-term deal is extended at Fratton Park.

He added: ‘Naturally, when a new manager comes in, we have different requirements for the players we need to fit our game model.

‘Once you've got a really clear identity and game model, the two become much clearer. We know exactly what we want from our right-back, exactly what attributes from a number eight, exactly what we want from a left-winger etc.

‘It's not always what you like to watch, it's what you need and the team needs. It's trying to find the players to fit our model.’

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