Mark Catlin provides Portsmouth transfer update as search continues for new additions

And the Blues chief executive added he wouldn’t swap the three league points collected at Fleetwood on Saturday for recent defeats in both the FA Cup and Papa John’s Trophy.

Pompey exited both competitions in the matches prior to their League One return at Highbury Stadium on Saturday.

Kenny Jackett’s side won the game 1-0 to stay third in the table and apply further pressure on the top two – Lincoln and Hull.

To maintain that drive towards potential Championship football next season, the manager has since added to his ranks with the loan arrival of midfielder Harvey White from Spurs.

The 19-year-old represents the Blues’ only new arrival in the current window, despite the need to recruit a new left-back following Cam Pring’s return to parent club Bristol City and moves for Steve Seddon and/or Charlie Daniels being mooted.

Less than two weeks exist for Pompey to complete any deals they might be lining up.

And while the current window has been impacted upon by financial pressure related to coronavirus, plus the introduction of salary cap regulations and squad size restrictions, Catlin said the Blues were working ‘diligently’ behind the scenes to get further business done.

Speaking in the match-day magazine before tonight’s visit of AFC Wimbledon, Catlin said: ‘I would like to offer a warm welcome to Harvey White, who has arrived on loan from Tottenham, while we also wish Bryn Morris good luck following his switch to Northampton.

‘We are continuing to look for additions, and while the salary cap regulations make things tougher, we will work diligently to strengthen the squad before the transfer window shuts.’

Tonight’s visit of the Dons’ is the first of 26 Pompey league matches scheduled between now and May 8.

The games promise to come thick and fast, with nine mid-week fixtures currently in the offing.

The Blues’ cup defeats at Bristol City and Peterborough respectively means that programme has become easier to manage.

And with the league remaining the club’s top priority this season, Catlin admitted sacrifices had to be made.

The Pompey CEO said: ‘We lost two cup games recently but I wouldn’t have swapped progress in either the FA Cup and Papa John’s Trophy for the three points were collected at Fleetwood on Saturday.

‘Runs in other competitions are great, although we’ve never hidden the fact that doing well in the league is the utmost priority for us.

‘We want to be competing at the top end of the table, just as we have been for the past few seasons.

‘Even though we now have no further distractions, there are still a minimum of 26 games remaining in the space of just over 15 weeks.

‘It’s going to be an extremely hectic few months for sure.’

Pompey’s digital match-day magazine is free to read here.

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