Life without Joey Barton - Portsmouth boss assesses managerless Fleetwood's threat

The Cod Army are currently being overseen by youth-team boss Simon Wiles, following the departure of Joey Barton.

After becoming manager in June 2018, Barton steered Fleetwood into last season’s play-offs – and they remain in the promotion reckoning this term.

Also exiting Fleetwood alongside the former Manchester City player were director of football Eddy Jennings and coaching staff Clint Hill and Andy Mangan.

Certainly there’s a very different look to hosts’ hierarchy after the clubs shared a goalless Fratton Park draw four weeks ago.

But Jackett does not believe the changes will have too much of an effect on Saturday’s encounter.

He said: ‘It’s a situation where they have appointed somebody in the interim and had a really good go at Hull on Tuesday night in the Papa John’s Trophy and were unlucky to lose.

‘You never know what happens inside a club unless you are there. Joey is somebody I know and have respect for and he will have enjoyed what he did at Fleetwood.

‘He should be proud of his achievements, I am sure it will be his first step towards a long and successful managerial career.

‘We know their players, they know our players, and I don’t think the managerial situation changes it that much for us.

‘We have to be at our best because it’s a hard game, definitely.

‘But if we play to our capacity, we feel we are capable of beating anybody, so our challenge and our focus comes on maximising what we do and playing to our very best.

‘Previous games between the sides have been competitive, with both teams getting into the play-offs last season. The clubs will want to be there again at the very least this season.

‘Fleetwood have a good squad of players and we must get our mentality and quality right. If we do, we do think we can give sides problems.’

Fleetwood are presently sitting in 11th, six points behind Pompey and having played a match more.

And Jackett believes they remain promotion candidates in a tight League One table.

He added: ‘I think they are promotion rivals.

‘The fact they were in the play-offs last year and – if you look down to 12th or 13th in the league - you can say all of those still have a good chance.

‘We have 27 games left, some sides have more. That’s a lot of football to be played.’

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