Exclusive:'Discussions are ongoing': Portsmouth chief reveals latest development plans for training ground

Rich Hughes has laid bare his latest training ground plans - and the introduction of another grass pitch tops the agenda.

As it stands, the Blues have three-and-a-half pitches at their Copnor Road base, of which one is designated for their Under-18s.

Pompey have long spoken about the creation of a fourth full-size pitch, with disused former tennis courts and old Roko football pitches offering potential space.

Previous proposals to replace the former first-team Portakabin with a pitch were shelved in the summer of 2025, when the building was instead overhauled and repurposed to house Academy offices.

Yet the desire to expand the number of pitches remains - and has been prioritised by the Blues’ sporting director as he strives to further enhance their Hilsea-based training ground.

‘That’s the natural way forward for us’

Hughes told The News: ‘A lot of really good work has gone on in terms of the (Roko) building and the pitch renovations in the summer. The natural point for us is to extend that, create another pitch, that’s really where we want to take it.

‘We want to tidy up a lot of the stuff out in the background, we have done a lot of work on the car park, we have done a lot of work on the entrancing.

‘The next thing for us is another pitch where we can really build things out and create more space, create more ability for the players to be out there.

‘Not withstanding, we are really proud and pleased with all the work which has made this a really high-performing environment. John and I have spent a lot of time discussing it, a lot of time implementing it, and a lot of time tweaking things.

‘It is hugely important to us to make this training ground a place of work where people want to come in, they want to work hard, they want to be here and really respect the environment.

‘We have done that quite well over a period of time, but the next step is investing in extra pitches and starting to build that out, creating more space for everyone and to keep developing the football club.

‘That’s the natural way forward for us and discussions are ongoing. If you asked me where’s the next iteration of the training ground, that would be it. Hopefully it will be a new grass pitch, that’s the plan and the expectation.

‘I just think it would be really beneficial because, ultimately, you have an extra pitch. You can rest between pitches, you can keep them fresh, you can keep them livelier and in a really good spot.’

The Hilsea venue was bought by Tornante in June 2021

Pompey’s training ground has undergone significant change since Tornante purchased it from Roko in June 2021.

Rebranded the Portsmouth Health & Fitness Club, the first-team relocated their offices to the former Roko building in the summer of 2024, vacating the Portakabin and another building.

Since then, player facilities have continued to be improved, while, over the last two summers, first-team playing surfaces have been relaid, with the introduction of new pitch irrigation to boost drainage.

And next on Hughes' list is the creation of another pitch.

He added: ‘I don’t know the timeframe, that would be something we’ll continue to pick up with the board. They are very aware of mine and John’s position on that, they understand it and it has been discussed internally.

‘I don’t know if there’s a timeframe on it as such at the moment, but it’s something we’ll continue to discuss and look into.

’There’s always that notion in football of you always want the next thing’

‘Once we got that League One promotion, it felt like the natural time to move into the (Roko) building, we had the backing to do it and do it quickly.

‘We’re really pleased with where it has gone, we are pleased with the investment we’ve been able to put into it, but there’s always that notion in football of you always want the next thing - and we want the improvement.

‘We want to keep that real feeling of hard work and being a place where people want to spend their time.’

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