Danny Cowley: Why inspirational Joe Gallen will be remaining at Portsmouth

Joe Gallen will be staying on at Fratton Park this season to help new head coach Danny Cowley. Picture: Joe PeplerJoe Gallen will be staying on at Fratton Park this season to help new head coach Danny Cowley. Picture: Joe Pepler
Joe Gallen will be staying on at Fratton Park this season to help new head coach Danny Cowley. Picture: Joe Pepler
Joe Gallen’s Pompey enthusiasm has ‘inspired’ Danny Cowley.

And the Blues’ head coach is adamant he wants Kenny Jackett’s former number two by his side for the remainder of the campaign.

Ex-caretaker boss Gallen had been expected to depart Fratton Park once a fresh managerial appointment was finalised.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Instead he will see out the season as first-team coach, with Danny and Nicky Cowley keeping the existing backroom.

And Danny Cowley has admitted his admiration for the likeable Gallen.

He said: ‘We know when there is a change of management there is a natural anxiety and an uncertainty.

‘Our first day on Friday was about us meeting people, building relationships, trying to create a safe environment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘We like an environment where everyone can be themselves, we like an environment which gets the best out of them.

‘We think a lot of Joe. With our due diligence, everybody we speak to in football only has the best words to say about Joe Gallen.

‘We have been taken aback by his enthusiasm, not just for football, but for the club.

‘Don’t forget, it must have been a hugely tough week for Joe. When you consider the team lost at Wembley on Saturday, somebody he worked with for a number of years and a friend of his was sacked on the Sunday, and he took the team on Tuesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Read More
For the latest Pompey news direct to your inbox sign up for our free newsletter

‘When we met him, he had incredible enthusiasm, energy, and a will for the club to do well. That really took me aback and actually I feel quite inspired talking to him.

‘We want to keep all the staff. We feel these are other committed people and want to work with them. That’s the plan.’

Coach Jake Wigley will also be staying at Fratton Park as the Blues seek to resurrect their promotion ambition.

And having integrated with existing members of staff, the former Lincoln and Huddersfield pair believe the new regime can thrive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nicky Cowley added: ‘Obviously Danny and myself are brothers.

‘At work we are two people who love working with others in the best interests of the football club. It is as simple as that.

‘We are not too entitled, we are not too hung up on roles and responsibilities in terms of what we should do.

‘For us it’s about making a really good connection, creating a good relationship with people, having healthy working relationships, understanding what their skill sets are and then accountability.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Make them responsible and give them roles that benefit the football club.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than 14p a day.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice