Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett drops big hint over the future of former Bristol Rovers and QPR defender Lee Brown

Kenny Jackett has dropped a sizeable hint the left-back is set to remain at Fratton Park beyond the summer.

But the Blues boss explained any negotiations with the club’s vice-captain have needed to be shelved with football in such an uncertain period.

The News revealed last month, the 29-year-old looks set to extend his stay at the club he arrived at in 2018 after leaving Bristol Rovers.

Brown has been first-choice left-back in front of Brandon Haunstrup making 70 appearances, but has seen Steve Seddon jump to the head of the pecking order since arriving on loan from Birmingham.

The former QPR trainee sees his existing deal come to a close in the summer, with Pompey holding an option to extend that agreement by another 12 months.

That situation is muddied by the suspension to the season, with the Blues possibly having to make a decision over whether to activate that option before football resumes.

Jackett thinks having Brown around moving forward would be a benefit to Pompey - whatever decision they’re in next season.

He said: ‘I’ve been pleased with Lee and I do like him.

‘It’s not a situation we can react to right now, but we are aware of it coming up.

‘It’s similar to Christian Burgess’ situation. Those situations are there.

‘Are we doing something right now about it? No we’re not - and people will understand why.

‘He’s given us a bit of everything and we missed him over the first half of the season.

‘Then Steve Seddon came in loan, but there’s still been times when Lee’s experience has been good for us as well.

‘In any situation moving forward, whether that be the run-in or a new season, Lee Brown is a good player and committed player. I always think he’d be an asset.’

Brown is one of eight players out of contract as he’s joined by Christian Burgess, Brett Pitman, Oli Hawkins, Brandon Haunstrup, Adam May, Luke McGee and Matt Casey in seeing their existing deals come a close.

Pompey also have four loanees at the club in the shape of Sean Raggett, Cameron McGeehan, Ross McCrorie and Steve Seddon, with supporters keen to see if any of those stays will become permanent.

Fifa have proposed a blanket extension of contracts beyond their current June 30 expiry date, a move called for by Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin early on after the suspension to the season.

Jackett feels the way in which the possible outcomes have been so fluid has led to a scenario where Pompey need to wait on finalising deals.

He said: ‘At the moment we’re waiting because it’s been a period where things are changing daily.

‘It may settle down for a few weeks and nothing much will happen. That may well be the case.

‘There’s the whole situation with different things being said and different governing bodies.

‘We’re all working off the guidelines laid down by the people at the top - and rightly so.’