Mark Catlin reveals Portsmouth's salary cap success - and there's space for more players

And the chief executive insists there remains ‘manoeuvrability’ within the player budget to add to Fratton Park ranks.

The Blues were fiercely opposed to the introduction of the Football League-backed salary cap into League One and League Two.

Nonetheless, the regulations have been enforced, subsequently impacting Kenny Jackett’s pre-season recruitment.

This summer, Sean Raggett and Michael Jacobs arrived at Fratton Park having been released by Norwich and Wigan respectively.

There was also the signing of Callum Johnson for an undisclosed fee from Accrington, while Cam Pring and Rasmus Nicolaisen joined on loan.

And Catlin admits some of the fresh faces had to accept pay cuts to fit the club’s salary cap.

He told The News: ‘In regards of the salary cap, we are, effectively, running two budgets.

‘You have the real budget of the actual cost of the players, but, because a lot of those are capped at the divisional average, there is also a different budget.

‘With the salary cap as it stands, there is a little bit of flexibility in there, a manoeuvrability.

‘We already went into it with a high proportion of contracted players, so it hasn’t been that difficult for us. The basis of the squad is as it was pre the vote.

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‘We’ve had to do a bit of manoeuvring and, dare I say, a couple of players we have signed are on less money than they would have been had the cap not been introduced.

‘It does hit players very hard, it’s a short career for them.

‘While I think there would have been a rationalisation of player salaries anyway because of covid, the salary cap certainly focuses minds on that.

‘In certain circumstances, players have had to accept reduced salaries to fit in with the salary cap – and that applies to clubs throughout League One and League Two.’

Catlin insists there’s room within Pompey’s finances for further additions during a transfer window which ends at 5pm on Friday.

Yet he remains against the salary cap.

He added: ‘While it is great we have managed to fit players in, we still stick to our principles.

‘Given the size of Pompey and pre-covid gate receipts, we should be allowed to flex that.’

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