The pivotal role of Danny Cowley in Portsmouth appointment of new Academy boss Greg Miller

And the Blues’ head coach is convinced Greg Miller is the right choice to revamp Fratton Park’s youth production line.

Despite currently contracted to Pompey until the season’s end, Cowley and brother Nicky continue to have a strong voice in assembling the club’s infrastructure.

According to Cowley, he was involved in the shortlisting and then interview process in deciding the candidate to oversee the Blues’ youth set-up.

That outcome was former Barnsley Academy head Miller, who took up the role on Monday – and Cowley has delivered a glowing reference.

He said: ‘I was a little bit involved in the shortlisting and involved in the interview process.

‘It’s a huge, huge appointment for this football club moving forward.

‘I know there are supporters desperate for us to develop our own young players – we are with them 100 per cent. We see it as such a positive appointment, which I am really excited about.

‘With Greg, I see a real motivation, an energy, a grit and determination, loads of qualities that I thought this Academy needed.

‘We had a great shortlist, but it was really clear to me that Greg was the right person. He came from Barnsley, I like their model, he had a huge influence in what happened in their Academy.

‘Anyone you speak to at Barnsley only has the very best things to say about Greg, his work ethic and determination to improve young players.

‘We are looking forward to working very closely with him.

‘We will not stop until this club is a number one Category Three Academy. Once that is achieved we have to be a Category Two.

‘Let’s get to the top of Category Three first, because there is a process in this.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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