Since being appointed permanent head coach on Monday, despite failing to guide Pompey into the League One play-offs, plans for the 2021-22 season are already full steam ahead.
The first major acts Cowley must carry out is decide on the futures of the 11 out of contract players.
Plenty has been made about the number whose deals have culminated now the campaign is over.
Included in the group are captain Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Ryan Williams and Craig MacGillivray – who’ve all been regulars when fit.
With Cowley plotting a renewed League One promotion push, he has to decide who out of the 11 can make an impact next term and who is surplus to requirements.
With that said, we’ve taken a look at what the head coach has previously said about each of them since taking the hot seat from Kenny Jackett in March...
Plenty has been made about the number whose deals have culminated now the campaign is over.
5. Craig MacGillivray
Cowley hasn’t said too much about the man who was named The News/ Sports Mail Player of the Season. However, the fact MacGillivray’s played every game since the head coach arrived and has a team-first attitude won’t have gone unnoticed. There would undoubtedly be swathes of fans up in arms if the Scot is released.
Photo: Daniel Chesterton
6. Ben Close
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Cowley’s arrival after being in the cold for the majority of the season under Jackett. Close started 10 of the games the ex-Braintree chief was in charge of, came off the bench in another and missed the trip to MK Dons with a groin problem. Cowley said after the Shrewsbury win: ‘Ben’s an excellent footballer, a top player. We think he can fit into that (midfield) two, absolutely. Ben plays with wonderful control.’
Photo: Joe Pepler
7. Haji Mnoga
The teenage defender’s only been involved in a solitary match-day squad under Cowley. However, the supremo has already stated Pompey will be taking up the option of an additional 12 months in Mnoga’s contract and Cowley’s looking forward to helping the academy product improve. The boss said: ‘He’s not going anywhere, I can promise you that. He’s ours and we are going to have a lot of fun. I look at him every day and it excites me. I wake up and think “How can I make Haji better?”.'
Photo: Joe Pepler
8. Jordy Hiwula
The striker’s ankle injury he picked up just a game into Cowley’s reign left Pompey badly short of striking options. Hiwula returns to the bench for Sunday’s defeat of Accrington, with Cowley outlining the versatility of the ex-Coventry man. Cowley said: ‘Jordy gives real flexibility in terms of our shape. He can play in many different ways, such as a 9 off the target man, as an 11 in a 4-3-3, or as a 7 in a 4-3-3. ‘Jordy’s got super strength in terms of his pace and ability to run off the back of opponents. He is also a very, very calm finisher.’
Photo: Joe Pepler