Kenny Jackett speaks out on his future after Portsmouth play-off agony against Oxford United

Kenny Jackett has underlined his determination to see through the job of reaching the Championship after more play-off heartache.
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And the Pompey boss admitted he can see a player shake-up in the coming months, after the gut-wrenching penalty shootout defeat to Oxford United.

There’s widespread calls for Jackett to leave after last night’s hugely disappointing failure at the Kassam Stadium.

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The lacklustre manner of what unfolded had echoes of last season’s play-off defeat to Sunderland, on an evening where both sides served up a spectacle which failed to ignite.

It proved the lottery of penalties which denied Pompey, however, with Cameron McGeehan the man to fail in a 5-4 shootout loss.

It means Jackett has failed to reach the Championship at the third time of asking - but he’s adamant his will to deliver second-tier football remains in place.

He said: ‘It is there, very much so (his desire for the job).

‘I do feel there is a good squad to build it on.

Kenny Jackett after last night's penalty shootout loss at Oxford United. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)Kenny Jackett after last night's penalty shootout loss at Oxford United. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Kenny Jackett after last night's penalty shootout loss at Oxford United. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
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‘We’ve had a very consistent time and that’s what we’ve tried to work for.

‘We’ve fallen now twice at the play-off hurdles with not much in the games and not getting the rub of the green.

‘I do feel there’s been consistency and we do aspire to be better. We have to keep trying to build.

‘The supporters will be disappointed.

‘The record as a club shows we’ve not won a single play-off game.

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‘We’ve had two 1-1 draws really and lost the second one 5-4 on penalties.

‘We have to break that down if we can and keep going.’

With eight players out of contract this summer and football facing the ongoing uncertainty around the coronavirus crisis, there’s inevitable upheaval on the horizon for Pompey.

Christian Burgess has played his last game for the club, the likes of Oli Hawkins, Brett Pitman, Brandon Haunstrup and Lee Brown are out of contract and four loanees see their agreements end.

Jackett added: ‘We’ll see how League One looks next year.

‘But with players out of contract and people like Burgess going there’s a natural evolution anyway every summer, no matter what division you’re in. That’s just the case every time.

‘We’ve got some lads on loan and some out of contract.

‘We’ll see what next week looks like terms of League One.

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‘Then after that we’ll make sure we can put together a competitive squad.

‘We have a nucleus under contract and they’re coming back no matter what division we’re in.

‘I do think we have a nucleus of a good. There’ll be changes but won’t be wholesale changes needed.’

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