Ex-Swindon loanee Adam May backed for Football League future by Portsmouth manager who released him

The Academy product has been informed his contract will not be renewed, along with Luke McGee and Matt Casey.

It completes a miserable year for May, who had hoped to prove his Football League worth during a season-long loan with Swindon.

Instead, the 21-year-old finds himself without a club after 30 Blues appearances, following Jackett’s decision to not extend his existing Fratton Park deal.

Yet Pompey’s boss believes the midfielder possesses the talent to fight back and establish himself at this level.

He told The News: ‘Adam has been told his contract will not be renewed and he’s not training with us.

‘He was on loan at Swindon and the possibilities from that obviously stopped pretty quickly. He’ll be waiting for football to pick up properly to be able to get himself a new club.

‘But I think he can play in the Football League – it’s about how he responds going forward.

‘Adam played for me in my first season. We had just come out of League Two and quite an old team had done the job to get us out, so we needed to move on.

‘Once you get into the top 10 of League One, that’s a very good competition and you are almost looking for Championship players that can get you to the very top and promoted.

‘The top 10 of League One needs a high standard of player = and the demands of the club probably went a little bit quicker than Adam’s career did.

‘Adam was unfortunate with his loans and he has to work hard to bounce back. He will need to get a home now and play on a regular basis if he is to fulfil his potential.’

During the 2017-18 campaign, Jackett’s maiden Pompey season, May was handed 18 first-team outings, including 10 League One starts.

The following year he was restricted to purely cup action, totalling five appearances.

This term he made 13 appearances at Swindon, although the loan spell was cancelled halfway through and May was instead sent to Boreham Wood.

Jackett added: ‘He will now be looking to put his experience to good use.

‘You see people who have done well and then look at their previous clubs and it is clear many young players need to go on their journey to build up experience to be the players they end up becoming.

‘Part of that is coming through and taking a fresh opportunity when you get it – and I think that’s the case with Adam.

‘I tell all players not to take being released too hard. It happens to most at some stage or another.

‘Now is about looking forward and how you bounce back.’

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