Indeed, the summer of 2021 would be characterised by a seemingly endless procession of unknown faces, many of which turned out during the Blues’ friendly campaign.
While the likes of Gassan Ahadme, Jay Mingi and Jayden Reid remained, others had to go elsewhere in the hunt for a new football club.
You may not recall many of them, but the following 10 players all trained – and played – for Pompey under Danny Cowley in July 2021...
You may not recall many of them, but the following 10 players all trained – and played – for Pompey under Danny Cowley in July 2021...
5. Ryan Leak
Joined Pompey’s League One rivals Burton on a free transfer in July 2021, going on to make 22 appearances and score once in the 2021-22.
His displays caught the eye of Salford, who paid an undisclosed fee to sign the central defender in July 2022.
Leak was a regular in this season’s League Two side, featuring 47 times and scoring twice, although was unused on the bench for both legs of their play-off semi-final defeat to Stockport.
Picture: Pete Norton/Getty Images Photo: Pete Norton
A former Lincoln player under Danny Cowley, the left-back joined Australian side Peninsula Power in February 2022 and last summer joined non-league Wealdstone.
He went on to make 36 appearances for the Royals as they finished 13th in the National League.
The 31-year-old is currently in contract talks over remaining at Wealdstone.
Picture: Joe Portlock/Getty Images Photo: Joe Portlock
The former Doncaster man signed as a free agent for Crewe in September 2021 on a two-year deal.
However, he would make just 11 appearances as the Railwaymen were relegated from League One in 2021-22 and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Last summer, the Spaniard moved to UAE First Division side Fursan Hispania
Picture: James Chance/Getty Images Photo: James Chance
The former Newcastle player was unsuccessful in his Fratton Park trial and in August 2021 moved to Crawley on a two-year deal.
The defender has gone on to make 59 appearances and score twice for the League Two club, featuring in the same team as another Pompey triallist, Corey Addai.
The Guadeloupean is now searching for a new club having been released last month following Crawley’s successful battle against relegation.
(Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images) Photo: Pete Norton