Kenny Jackett's view over chances of landing players from Championship amid wage cap

Kenny Jackett is confident there is still a market for Pompey to land Championship players.
Kenny JackettKenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett

And the Blues boss believes players will still be forced to drop out of the second tier in search of first-team football, even after the advent of the wage cap and salary restrictions.

There’s been concerns raised over the likelihood of players stepping down from the second to third tiers, with the amount clubs can pay players now restricted by the £2.5m budget ceiling.

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That will make it hard for clubs like Pompey to fill their squad with players like Cameron McGeehan and Ben Thompson, who’ve arrived in previous seasons.

A view is players from the second tier may look to move to Scotland or abroad on a permanent basis, if they can’t match their current earnings stepping down a league.

But Jackett feels fringe players may have to face up to that reality if they want regular minutes on the pitch.

He said: ‘You follow team selection in terms of who’s doing what and playing well.

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‘It gives you some ideas and some of them will definitely come up from a higher level.

‘Yes, there will be a trickle of players who come down with or without the wage cap.

‘That will have to be the case, because people will be looking for first-team football.

‘I think that will happen over the next few weeks, but there still five weeks to go and, in terms of the window for us, we have to keep some flexibility until the end.

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‘There is a gap anyway. If you look at the Championship there’s been more growth in Championship wages, probably, than in League One and League Two.

‘The gap has always been there, but the lower you go down it’s rare finances are sustained, it’s generally cut sooner or later.’

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