'I'm gutted': Portsmouth boss admits Luke Le Roux regrets after unsuccessful Fratton Park stay
Luke Le Roux made 17 appearances for the Blues after joining in July 2025
John Mousinho reflected on Luke Le Roux’s unsuccessful Pompey stay and admitted: I’m gutted.
Le Roux had been recruited from Swedish football in July 2025 to provide midfield competition for veteran Marlon Pack in the number six role.
However, he would total just 17 appearances during his time on the south coast, while his lack of matches would also cost him a place at the 2026 World Cup finals with the Bafana Bafana.
And Mousinho felt it was the right decision to part ways after a disappointing transfer.
‘We couldn't quite get him going’
Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘It didn't work out for Luke over the time he was here. He probably came in during difficult circumstances and could never quite get himself going.
‘He came in late in the window, wasn't quite fit, and, when we did play him, by the time he got into the side we were in that run post the first international break when we weren’t performing particularly well.
‘That was probably a difficult thing for Luke. We couldn't quite get him going, so we wanted to give him the opportunity to go and explore another move.
‘He could have sat here and been out of the squad for the next four or five months until January - or tried to explore something else.
‘He's a very, very nice kid and I think he's a good footballer as well. If he gets his chance and plays regularly, then he’ll be fine.’
Unveiled on the same day as fellow new arrival Mark Kosznovszky in July 2025, Le Roux would feature for just two minutes during their pre-season friendly schedule.
That was an 88th-minute outing off the bench for Andre Dozzell in a 1-0 victory over PEC Zwolle at Fratton Park, with Thomas Waddingham netting a last-gasp winner.
‘I’m a bit gutted that it never worked out’
The midfielder’s competitive debut for Pompey was a start in the Carabao Cup against Reading. Despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the League One side, Mousinho afterwards praised the South African’s performance.
Tellingly, however, he made successive starts on just two occasions during his Blues career, including the final two matches of last season against Stoke and Birmingham.
Now the 26-year-old is looking for another club as a free agent - and Mousinho has backed him to be a success wherever he lands.
He added: ‘I'm a bit gutted that it didn't work out for Luke, sometimes it just doesn't in recruitment. That was one who we wanted to give an opportunity to.
‘He’ll be a success elsewhere. We bought him in for a reason, but sometimes it's just circumstance - and I do think that with Luke. I’m sure he'll do well somewhere else.’
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