Mark Catlin: Eisners will back Portsmouth financially if Championship return is enjoyed

Speaking at The News’ fans’ forum at Fratton Park this evening, the chief executive pinpointed a self-sustainability would then be key if the Blues enjoyed promotion this season.

Kenny Jackett’s side are well within the mix to go up entering the business end of the campaign. They currently sit fifth in the League One table with 12 games remaining.

Pompey’s playing budget would have to increase manifold to compete, however, with average second-tier playing salaries around £20m per season.

But Catlin is confident the Tornante Company would back Jackett’s Blues to ensure they get a foothold in the division.

He told The News’ fans' forum: ‘The average yearly salary for clubs in League One is about £2m-£2.5m, that's the median. You get into the Championship and it’s closer to £20m for playing salaries alone.

‘You do get more money in the Championship but that's the gulf.

‘There is a gap that has developed. Two of the three teams (Luton and Barnsley) that went up last season are in serious danger of going back down.

‘The other year, the three (Wigan, Blackburn and Rotherham) that went up straight from being relegated the season before.

‘It is an issue not just for Portsmouth, but more generally in football. The EFL are aware of it and there are tighter controls, I believe, coming along in regards to the Championship.

‘Without putting the club in difficulty and without going down the model of getting into debt and losing too much money, I think there is a figure that Michael will back us that would give us a very good fighting chance of getting a foothold in the Championship.

‘If we can get a foothold for a year or two, I do believe that maybe an investment worth making to sustain ourselves in the Championship longer term.

‘If you look at Millwall as an example, they got there and flirted with relegation but now seem to be establishing themselves as a Championship club.

‘I know roughly what their budget is roughly. We’re friends with Millwall and internally among clubs we sort of know what budgets are.

‘They’ve got a budget that’s a lot more than we could do in the Championship at the moment but maybe there is an argument for a little bit of investment, banking on cup runs, banking on player sales that can get us close to that figure and give us a fighting chance of competing in the Championship.

'How we run the club, we've taken all the discipline we had during fan ownership and making every penny count.

‘Taking that through into the Championship, we wouldn’t suddenly be giving X person who’s on £30,000 in a particular role at the club £100,000 because we're in the Championship and £250,000 if we got to the Premier League.

'We are going to be very sensible and try to maximise every penny we get to put it on the pitch to give ourselves a fighting chance.’

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