Detailed: How things now stand over Bristol City's pursuit of Portsmouth boss John Mousinho
The lowdown this evening on Bristol City’s interest in John Mousinho, the events of this week and where things currently stand over the Pompey boss’ future.
It was an impossible situation for John Mousinho.
With his scheduled end-of-season wrap-up press conference set to take place this week, the Pompey head coach could meet with the local media he’s forged sound relationships over his three-and-a-half year stay at Fratton Park.
The lowdown on where things currently stand over Mousinho’s future
But, inevitably, there would be one focus to the questions headed in his direction amid Bristol City’s ongoing interest in the man who turned 40 at the end of last month.
Alternatively, Mousinho could call off the meeting and consequently intensify the focus on his future - with it clear what the motivations were for doing so.
In the end the man whose stock is on the rise once more after a successful Championship survival bid chose the latter.
The News were obviously keen to have that audience with the man at the Fratton helm and put the questions to him supporters want answered, but at the same time, this observer could see why he arrived at the decision not to speak.
Across the two press briefings since news of interest from Pompey’s Championship rivals surfaced, Mousinho has spoken extensively about his situation with honesty and authenticity.
The first meeting at the club’s Hilsea training base went on for over an hour, with the Blues boss visibly fatigued at maintaining a genuine thread to his responses and acutely aware his Fratton legacy was at stake.
The second followed a same pattern over an extended period in the wake of the final-day meeting with Birmingham City, but there was a tacit admission over Bristol City’s interest as he stated what happens next is ‘out of everyone’s control to a certain extent’.
What has happened next is a sequence of events which are still to arrive at a definitive conclusion to the saga over Mousinho’s future.
Michael Skubala’s name is a significant one to throw into the mix, with reports yesterday of the Lincoln City boss’ release clause being activated out of kilter with the chronology of events.
That referred to a move made by Bristol City last week, with reports over the weekend Skubala is set to remain at Sincil Bank for now, actually the latest developments on his situation.
Mousinho and Skubala are two targets on a reported shortlist of four at Ashton Gate, with former Forest boss Steve Cooper and Steven Gerrard other names in the frame.
The News reported on Monday evening there had been no official approach made to Pompey over their head coach - and have updated that remains the case in the past couple of hours.
On the basis of no Blues contact being made after their move for Skubala, it’s not a great leap to suggest the other options being considered by Bristol City’s incoming sporting director, James Ellis, are still firmly in the picture for their head coach posting.
After a few days away at the start of last week, Mousinho has been back at the club’s training base where he held a series of meetings yesterday.
He is remaining hands-on in all areas of the football operation, with sporting director Rich Hughes taking a short break himself ahead of the transfer window opening next month.
One of Mousinho’s meetings was with chief executive Andy Cullen, with plans continuing to be put in place for recruitment, pre-season and work renovation works proceeding on Fratton Park and training ground pitches.
And for the shortening Mousinho odds at the head of the next Bristol City manager market, reports of talks and continuing noise, that’s how things currently lie.
We’ve seen many times before how the landscape can quickly shift in these situations, but, as things stand, there’s still a distance to travel to see Pompey’s most valuable asset depart.