Portsmouth hoping Covid-19 crisis can give Fratton Park redevelopment impetus in 'bizarre' way

The Blues had planning permission to redevelop the Milton End granted last month, although work has remained on hold.

That's because an agreement with those responsible for transport infrastructure around the ground must first be reached.

Talks with Network Rail, Portsmouth City Council and central government over improving rail and road links have been ongoing since last year.

Speaking on the BBC Radio Solent Sport Pompey Fans' Forum on Thursday, Catlin insisted the club are happy to fund the work required on their footprint – but need help from other parties to improve the area around the stadium.

The Blues' chief executive believes the government will start making monies available for regeneration projects to help reignite the economy following the coronavirus pandemic.

That's criteria Pompey would meet, which could help kick-start their Fratton Park vision.

Catlin said: ‘We underwent a year to a year-and-a-half study by speaking to various fans' groups and put out surveys to really test the waters in what fans were looking for.

‘Some at the club looked to potentially alleviate that problem by looking at options just off the island or just on the northern side of the island.

‘Michael (Eisner), the board and the vast majority of the board – even knowing the issues associated being to the south of the island and the inherent transport issues we have – took the decision we were going to do all we could to stay at Fratton Park.

‘That was the general feeling we picked up, so we listened to the supporters and are desperately trying to make that happen.

‘We've always said that putting the Milton End plans in and having approval for that, the wider regeneration of the whole area with what comes with what we want to do to Fratton Park is going to take a lot of assistance from the local council, Highways Agency, Network Rail and that was going to cost a lot of money.

‘While we are happy to do whatever we need on our own footprint, we were always, to a degree, going to rely on others coming to the party and helping us with that.

‘Pre-Covid, we were, I felt, edging close to that. It was ramping up with what we were doing with the council and Network Rail.

‘Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, everyone has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and that's been put on hold for a few months.

‘Yes, there are some pots now becoming available from central government that are looking to kick-start such projects that we have got on the table and the relevant authorities are aware of.

‘I think it could, in a bizarre sort of way, give us that impetus now moving forward in the next few months to finally realise our goal and get the stadium fans of Pompey all deserve and it being at Fratton Park.’

Catlin stressed that Pompey aren't expecting third parties to help fund the work they have planned for the Milton End or anything else at Fratton Park.

But he believes, because the Fratton and Milton areas will benefit from the project, it should be a shared responsibility.

He added: ‘Fratton Park development will be funded by Michael Eisner and our board.

‘What we have always been consistent with is that, while we are happy to fund whatever is on our footprint, we don't feel we should be contributing financially to a wider development where everyone in the Fratton and Milton area benefits. That should be a shared responsibility.

‘We have never once asked for a penny on our footprint or the immediate vicinity.

‘We are just asking for some help to get the infrastructure in place externally because that can be double the size of building a new stadium if you're not careful.

‘All we need is that assistance and we are good to go.

‘We released, under pressure, the plans for the Milton End. Michael and I were never comfortable doing that because you become a hostage to fortune.

‘We were very clear from the outset that it was dependent on getting some outside help into the transport and network infrastructure to enable fans to get in and out safely because we don't want to spend £7-8m on Milton End if it's not going to be our home for the long term.’