Portsmouth's future on the agenda as Danny Cowley finally meets chairman Michael Eisner after 19 months in the job

During his 19 months as Pompey’s head coach, Cowley has communicated on an almost weekly basis with owners Tornante via Zoom, phone calls and texts.

However, with the Eisner family and Andy Redman present at Fratton Park against Oxford United and Shrewsbury, it offers the opportunity for the Blues boss to finally be in the company of his chairman.

During their stay, Cowley is scheduled to attend a recruitment meeting and a board meeting, while will join them for a meal on Thursday evening.

And he’s relishing the chance to get to know Michael Eisner more on the 80-year-old’s first trip to England since February 2020.

Cowley told The News: ‘It will be lovely to be able to meet Michael face-to face, although I speak to them pretty much weekly.

‘The way of the world is now, we live on Zoom calls, so it has been good to get to know Michael both professionally and personally through those calls.

‘It’s board meetings, recruitment meetings or just catching up. If it’s not Michael, it’s Andy (Redman) or Eric. Eric texts me many times in a week, they are really committed to this project, it means a lot to them.

‘They have been incredibly supportive and, from day one, they have given us clarity over the project and confidence to be able to take a long-term perspective and make long-term decisions, which is really skilful ownership.

‘That has allowed us to make the right decisions for the football club rather than short-term selfish decisions – and we know that’s going to allow us, over time, to create the foundations to have sustained success here.

‘They have a really lovely balance of being incredibly supportive and there when you need them, but also giving me the confidence and freedom to be able to make decisions when necessary.

‘They’re coming to the Oxford game, meetings are planned – such as a board meeting and recruitment meeting – and then we’re going out to dinner, so we’ve got lots organised, which is great.

‘I don’t think meeting in person is now a necessity in the world we live, who would have thought three years ago we’d all be sitting on Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

‘But it’s a great way to communicate, for me much better than a telephone call. You can see them, interact and kind of feel the temperature, which I think is important.’

Cowley replaced Kenny Jackett as manager in March 2021, initially on an interim basis.

Yet while Eric Eisner and Andy Redman ventured from America to visit the south coast in April, Michael Eisner’s last trip was a 2-0 win over Sunderland in March 2020.

Cowley added: ‘It’s great for them to be able to come to Fratton, especially for Michael, and hopefully our supporters will give them a warm welcome.

‘You see so many owners with a short-term perspective, but they want to lay the foundations to allow this club to have success over many years.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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