How Portsmouth will handle 25-man squad headache after boosted by late transfer window business

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
It may have been a frenetic end to the transfer window, yet that late business ensured there are no such dramas surrounding Pompey’s Football League squad list.

There was a flurry of activity during the final three hours on Monday’s deadline day, with two signings and four exits.

Crucially, those departures have created straight-forward decisions over the make up of the 25-man squad, which must be submitted to the Football League at 12 noon on Thursday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Indeed, the Blues potentially have one spot spare, should Jacob Farrell and Paddy Lane both not be registered due to season-ending injuries.

Monday evening saw the exits of Tom McIntyre (Charlton), Will Norris (free transfer) and Owen Moxon (Stockport), opening up three spots.

Earlier in the window, Elias Sorensen (Valerenga) and Sammy Silvera (Middlesbrough) also left, thereby creating a total of five slots.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With newcomers Thomas Waddingham and Hayden Matthews born after January 1, 2003, they are classified as under-21 players, thereby are not required to be registered.

The Australian pair join Harvey Blair, Terry Devlin, Abdoulaye Kamara, Toby Steward and Reuben Swann in that category.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That leaves six fellow January signings to fit into five vacant slots - Rob Atkinson, Isaac Hayden, Cohen Bramall, Adil Aouchiche, Ben Killip and Kaide Gordon.

However, Pompey can comfortably create room for all by not registering one of Lane or Farrell, with neither expected to play again this season through injury.

Paddy Lane could be left out of Pompey’s 25-man Football League squad due to his season-ending injury. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImagesPaddy Lane could be left out of Pompey’s 25-man Football League squad due to his season-ending injury. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
Paddy Lane could be left out of Pompey’s 25-man Football League squad due to his season-ending injury. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages | Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

Not registering either would actually leave one spare spot, which, in theory could be filled by a free agent, provided they have departed a club during a transfer window.

Meanwhile, Ibane Bowat remains out of contention as he recovers from the season-ending injury he sustained in September.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here’s how Pompey’s 25-man Football League squad could potentially look when submitted by Thursday’s noon deadline.

Goalkeepers: Nicolas Schmid, Jordan Archer, Ben Killip

Defenders: Zak Swanson, Conor Shaughnessy, Cohen Bramall, Ryley Towler, Regan Poole, Jordan Williams, Connor Ogilvie, Rob Atkinson

Midfielders: Marlon Pack, Andre Dozzell, Isaac Hayden, Freddie Potts

Attackers: Adil Aouchiche, Matt Ritchie, Callum Lang, Josh Murphy, Kaide Gordon

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Strikers: Colby Bishop, Kusini Yengi, Christian Saydee, Mark O’Mahony

Under-21s: Harvey Blair, Terry Devlin, Abdoulaye Kamara, Toby Steward, Reuben Swann, Thomas Waddingham, Hayden Matthews.

Injured (for the remainder of the season): Ibane Bowat, Paddy Lane, Jacob Farrell.

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