Portsmouth skipper Tom Naylor gives honest view of relationship with Kenny Jackett after Oxford United axing

And Pompey’s skipper is adamant there’s no lingering resentment from him towards his boss, after his shock play-off axing at the end of last term.

Jackett’s decision stunned supporters after Naylor was dropped for the critical games, following two virtual ever-present campaigns.

The 29-year-old told how talks took place with the Blues boss in the wake of the U’s loss to reassure him over his future.

And that gave him the belief that his future lay at Fratton Park bidding for promotion, at the third time of asking.

He said: ‘It was the gaffer’s decision in the play-offs and I respected his decision as always.

‘I don’t pick the team, he does, but it reminded me I do need to perform to keep the shirt.

‘Maybe last season I was thinking I want to play every game. Now I might take a different approach and realise I have to play well to keep my shirt.

‘I spoke to him a week after the play-offs and we had a long chat, a serious conversation.

‘He reassured me he still wants to be the captain and he wants me in his team.

‘I’ve always had a good relationship with the gaffer, and long may that continue.

‘The gaffer has brought me to this club, I’ve played a lot of games and he made me captain at this club

‘I’ve not got a bad word to say about the gaffer. I respect him and he respects me. You need that relationship.

‘We speak in training and if he wants to know anything or I see things which need to improve, I’m called into his office and we speak about it.

‘Since we’ve been back every player has upped their game and the togetherness is there.

‘This is a big season. I want to get promoted. That’s the reason I came down here, to play for this club and get us where we belong.’

Jackett explained the decision to drop Naylor for Bryn Morris as a ‘change for summer football’, as the game restarted in July as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was a statement seized upon by supporters with the manager vilified, but the midfielder believes it was taken the wrong way by fans.

Naylor also moved to quell suggestions there was another reason for him not being picked, although he admitted he saw the signs coming he may not be involved.

He added: ‘I understood his comments, and I think people have taken it the wrong way.

‘The fans read what the gaffer said, and it is what it is.

‘I can’t do anything about it, but it’s not something I’m dwelling on.

‘I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed and I wasn’t happy that I wasn’t playing in the two biggest games after playing all season.

‘You do read stuff into training, the Reading game was half and half and he changed it for the Brentford game, so you see things.

‘But I was more disappointed that we didn’t promoted. That was more disappointing than me not playing.

‘We’d worked so hard to get to where we were, and it was a massive chance.

‘But as captain you have to bring people back up, lift people and now it’s a new season where we have to hit the ground running.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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