Potential déjà vu for Pompey if Steve Seddon is kept at Birmingham - like Nottingham Forest midfielder was

After head-coach Pep Clotet announced he will depart St Andrew’s at the season’s end, you couldn't help think how it could have ramifications on Pompey’s future recruitment plans.

Steve Seddon’s enjoyed a superb loan spell since arriving at Fratton Park in January, scoring one goal in 17 appearances.

Certainly, supporters would relish the opportunity of the left-back signing permanently – something Kenny Jackett would be interested in, too.

But not only has the precarious financial climate of the coronavirus outbreak put such plans in doubt, so too has the fact a new man will be in the Brum hot seat ahead of next season.

That could represent a fresh start for Seddon in the Midlands, having been well down the pecking order under Clotet.

And should the Spaniard's successor take a shine to the Reading-born man and propel him into his plans for 2020-21, then Pompey will get an unsavoury whiff of déjà vu.

It wasn’t all that long ago when another managerial change killed the Blues’ recruitment plans.

Amid Ben Thompson’s scintillating form during his loan spell from Millwall last season, Jackett started to prepare for the worst.

As the diminutive midfielder entertained the Fratton faithful with panache, there was an inevitability he would be recalled by the Lions during the January transfer window.

So much so that the candidate earmarked to take up the mantle is said to have watched Thompson’s dazzling display in a 3-1 win over Sunderland in December.

Ryan Yates was supposedly in the Fratton Park stands for that League One heavyweight clash.

Pompey were seriously interested in the Nottingham Forest midfielder and were hopeful of getting a deal over the line after Thompson returned to Millwall.

Yates had featured just once for Forest during the first half of 2018-19, which was a Carabao Cup victory over Bury.

He was firmly out of favour at the City Ground and a loan spell at Fratton Park to enhance his development was in the offing.

Things changed at breakneck speed, however.

Forest boss Aitor Karanka left the club by his own will, which ultimately put paid to Yates’ switch to PO4.

Martin O’Neill took over the reins, giving every player out of favour an opportunity to impress – which Yates grabbed with both hands.

The 22-year-old would thrust himself into the Irishman’s set-up, scoring one goal in 16 games as Forest finished ninth in the Championship.

Jackett subsequently turned his attention to Bryn Morris to help continue Pompey’s promotion push.

Injuries limited the ex-Middlesbrough man to just eight appearances, however, as the Blues suffered play-off defeat to Sunderland.

Even at the beginning of the campaign, things might have been different had Sean Longstaff not played his way into Newcastle’s first-team squad.

The midfielder was close to joining Pompey during the summer, only to duly impress Toon boss Rafa Benitez in pre-season.

He’s now a regular at St James’ Park.

The Blues would target Seddon moving to the south coast during the off-season – hopefully as part of plans for a return to the Championship.

However, Jackett will only know too well the effects a managerial change elsewhere can have on his recruitment.