How Kenny Jackett is dealing with Portsmouth flak amid fan unrest heading into the new season

That's the verdict of assistant manager Joe Gallen, who has every confidence the Blues can reach the Championship come the end of the 202-21 season.

Jackett's come under severe pressure from supporters after Pompey's League One play-off semi-final defeat to Oxford last month.

The penalty-shootout loss meant the ex-Millwall boss once more failed to lead the Blues to promotion after three years in the driving seat.

As a result, a substantial number of fans have been calling for his head ever since.

However, the Fratton Park board have stayed loyal to Jackett as Pompey's latest campaign starts with a trip to Stevenage in the Carabao Cup first round on Saturday.

Gallen's been Jackett's right-hand man for more than a decade and he admitted such criticism is nothing new, having experienced similar levels of backlash at both Millwall and Wolves.

The Blues No2 said the manager knows it’s part and parcel of the role he’s in – a sentiment often shared by the PO4 boss to The News.

But Gallen said his long-term friend remains determined to lead Pompey to promotion.

‘It's no different at any club. If you've been a manager at any club for a certain amount of time then there are going to be people who don't think you're the right person,’ said Gallen.

‘Kenny sees it as part of the deal being a manager and goes with the flow.

‘It was no different for him at Millwall at times and when we were at Wolves at times.

‘We've had a reasonable time here in terms of winning games, so it's up to Kenny and me to assist him to produce a winning team, starting on Saturday, and to get everyone back on board.

‘Kenny really enjoys being a manager. He just knows it (criticism) is part of being a manager and if you speak to any manager out there then it'll be the same.

‘Sometimes being a manager is good and sometimes it's not so good. You just have to keep going and believe in yourself.

‘Kenny believes in the players he's got and, with the right acquisitions, we believe we can have a really good season and be promoted into the Championship.’

Jackett is now into the final year of his Pompey contract and there are doubts whether he'll be handed a new deal if promotion is not achieved this time around.

That's something Gallen insisted the pair aren't focused on, though.

He said their full attention was on bringing success to Fratton Park.

Gallen added: ‘We will just take the season as it comes. We've been so close, we just need to improve and not by a lot for this to happen.

‘I'm pretty confident in the team and the players that we can get off to a really good start.

‘If we can do that then this club is eventually going to get promoted - and why not this season?’