Mark Catlin reveals decision process behind Portsmouth Academy player exits

And the Blues’ chief executive is adamant the approach hasn’t deviated from previous Fratton Park seasons.

In the absence of an Academy manager, youngsters were last week informed on whether they possessed a Pompey future.

Former acting Academy boss Jon Slater and finance manager Tanya Robins were involved in delivering the news – acting upon decisions reached by the club’s technical board.

The outcome will see Harry Kavanagh, Eoin Teggart, Gerard Storey, Taylor Seymour, Charlie Bell and Harvey Rew among those to officially leave at the season’s end.

Meanwhile, Harrison Brook and Lee Seok-Jae have been offered third-year scholarships, while Alfie Stanley may yet stay.

And Catlin has revealed how those decisions were reached.

He told The News: ‘Every year, decisions are made on Academy players either being offered new contracts, going out on loan, or being released.

‘That is part and parcel of every single football club up and down the country and has definitely been the same format and process at Pompey this year.

‘No more, no less, it’s exactly the same process.

‘It was done through a technical board meeting, with Danny and Nicky in their capacity of head coach and assistant coach, forming part of that.

‘They didn’t have a lot of time to make a decision, but let’s not forget some of the lads were training with the first-team. Obviously they had a look at them there and also via video and analysis facilities made available.

‘Everyone has had an input in the process. Football is football, not everyone agrees. You get 10 people in a room and try to get them to agree to man of the match, it’s not easy.

‘Everyone has different views and opinions, but you have to take a broad basis of what the majority believe.’

On Monday – days following the decision on the youngsters – Greg Miller was announced as Pompey’s new Academy manager.

Although the incoming appointment was not involved in discussions on the youngsters.

Catlin added: ‘Ideally, we would have waited for the new Academy manager to come in, but you want to give lads as long as possible to go and find other clubs and trials elsewhere.

‘We felt that with a new Academy manager coming in who had no knowledge (of existing players), it was better to actually deal with it now. It was the right thing to do for the lads.

‘We always do that. Actually, this year we are quite late compared to previous years because of Covid and lack of games.

‘We tried to buy ourselves as much time as possible before making those decisions in the fairness of the players.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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