Danny Cowley mulling over another Portsmouth goalkeeping recruit

Pompey are weighing up adding a third goalkeeper to their playing ranks.
Duncan Turnbull was Pompey's third-choice keeper last season - and it's a Fratton Park vacancy which remains. Picture: Joe PeplerDuncan Turnbull was Pompey's third-choice keeper last season - and it's a Fratton Park vacancy which remains. Picture: Joe Pepler
Duncan Turnbull was Pompey's third-choice keeper last season - and it's a Fratton Park vacancy which remains. Picture: Joe Pepler

He will vie with Alex Bass for the number one spot, with Danny Cowley intimating he is comfortable letting the duo scrap it out.

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However, Pompey’s head coach has previously suggested his preference lies in a three-man goalkeeping department.

It is understood that remains a consideration, although any third keeper is likely to be an up-and-coming prospect.

Such a candidate is not currently at Fratton Park, following the close-season departures of Duncan Turnbull and Taylor Seymour.

In addition, none of last year’s Academy graduates were retained, including Leon Pitman, who made 13 appearances at that level in 2020-21.

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The Isle of Wight youngster has since joined AFC Portchester, turning out for a half in the Wessex League Premier Division club’s 4-1 friendly defeat to Salisbury on Saturday.

Next season, Conor Manderson will step up to become a second-year scholar in the Academy.

The Northern Ireland under-19 international made 19 appearances for Liam Daish’s side in the last campaign.

Yet he will not be ready to serve the first-team as a potential third-choice keeper, meaning Cowley must instead look outside the club.

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Interestingly, goalkeepers are not counted in the make-up of Football League squads next season.

Thereby a potential third stopper will not impact on playing numbers Cowley has at his disposal, with 22 outfield players allowed.

Last season, Turnbull served as back-up to Craig MacGillivray, Alex Bass and, for the second half of the season, Lewis Ward.

The American was an unused substitute 12 times, the last of which was a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln in January.

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Turnbull made his first-team debut in the January 2021 defeat at Peterborough, when the Blues lost 5-1 in the Papa John’s Trophy.

In the same match, Seymour was also handed his bow, entering as a second-half substitute for Turnbull.

However, both of them, along with MacGillivray, have now been released.

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