Revealed: The crucial final factor which led to Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth demise

The tipping point for Kenny Jackett’s Pompey tenure arrived amid one final desolate disappointment under the Wembley arch.

As dispiriting and disappointing a performance as was witnessed yesterday, the more telling factors for the end of 59-year-old four-season reign came elsewhere.

It came in the disconsolate and despondent words of Jack Whatmough, which although totally unintentional, spoke of a dressing room which had lost faith in its manager.

And more crucially it came in the shape of the League One table.

Saturday was supposed to be the day Pompey got their season back on track at the home of football.

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Yet, what we suffered for long periods of the match at Wembley against a League Two opponent was a complete embarrassment - and the pain of what was witnessed against Salford City shouldn’t be underestimated.

But arguably of greater significance was what was happening elsewhere around the country.

It was those events which had their impact and confirmed play-off ambitions were now out of Pompey’s hands.

Amid the public protestations of support for the man who arrived in the summer of 2017, the private thought was always action would need to be taken if the top-six game was being lost.

And falling into seventh position was the definitive, undeniable evidence that was the case - and thus the final line in the sand.

Likewise, the dressing room falling away from the backing of their manager was of undeniable importance.

This wasn’t an angry coup from within, though. More the evidence of what our eyes told us.

The confidence of Pompey’s players has become so palpably shot, it was clear belief in the man brought in to deliver Championship football had evaporated.

So supporters will today rejoice at the outcome they desired, and a key issue is it will allow them to look forward with some hope again.

But there should be little joy taken at the demise of a man who, whatever people thought of him as football manager, is a gentleman.

We just hope the change has arrived in time to save a season which was going only one way.

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On Saturday, March 13 Pompey will finally get their day at Wembley.

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