Portsmouth make call over Kenny Jackett’s future after Northampton embarrassment

The Blues have decided to keep their under-fire boss at the helm, following yesterday’s disgraceful 4-1 embarrassment at Northampton.

The News understands the club’s board are remaining squarely behind the 59-year-old, in the wake of a result which goes down as one of the low points in the club’s modern history.

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Informal discussions took place following a dark chapter and afternoon which ranks as dispiriting a moment in this or any other season at Sixfields.

And the conclusion is the best course at this stage is to keep the man who arrived in 2017 in his post.

It’s a decision which will infuriate the majority of Pompey fans, with anger intensifying following the first-half capitulation which saw four goals conceded against the division’s lowest scorers who were entrenched in the relegation zone.

The club are perfectly aware of the toxic environment and believe a siege mentality is what is required to get the campaign back on track, as it continues to unravel.

Fans are questioning whether the dressing room is still backing Jackett, but there actually remains a prevailing support for the Hertfordshire man among the current group.

The question for the board to consider at this stage, is whether Pompey’s play-off hopes remain alive and what is the best way to get the season moving forward again.

Despite the fact both Accrington and Ipswich will move above the Blues in sixth place with a win in their game in hand, the club feel there’s still reason to believe a play-off spot is achievable under Jackett with 14 games remaining.

The club have not looked towards replacing the former Millwall boss, and sacking him now would leave them having to make a long-term call on a successor without the requisite planning in place.

That goes against the kind of structured decision-making the Eisners and board all place such stock in.

The alternative would be to make a stop-gap appointment using personnel from within the club, but the view is Jackett is better placed to improve matters at present.

The Pompey boss’ ability to remain unaffected amid the kind of pressure and intense fan fury which impacted many of his predecessors, is also seen as a benefit in the current climate.

Jackett now faces a daunting run of league fixtures in which he has to turn around the season.

In-form Sunderland come to Fratton Park on Tuesday and after the Papa John’s Trophy final against Salford City next Saturday, it’s a trip to Peterborough and Paul Cook’s Ipswich up next.

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