Roko offer Pompey training home

The Copnor Road venue approached Guy Whittingham with the suggestion as the club’s hunt continues for a new base.

Pompey’s Academy already have a long-standing agreement with Roko and its sister business PlayFootball.net.

Youngsters train there three nights a week, while the Academy have a pass to use the on-site gym and swimming pool.

The likes of Jed Wallace and Dan Butler have used it while in the youth set-up.

Now PlayFootball marketing manager Mark Read has lodged interest in the Portsmouth venue becoming the Blues’ training ground.

He met with Whittingham and Academy boss Andy Awford, along with Wallace and Butler, to show them around the venue yesterday.

Read said: ‘We have a long history with Pompey and working as a partnership.

‘We’ve provided them with pitches to use. They also have use of Roko’s gym and swimming pool.

‘When the club has gone into administration in the past we have taken hits and written money off – but we want to help the club out.

‘We are more than happy to support the club. After all, we are part of the local community.

‘We know how important Pompey is to our players. Everyone who uses PlayFootball are fans.

‘We would like to have the club down here on a full-time basis.

‘Our pitches are idle during the day and a year ago David Lampitt was looking to move the Academy here before the club went into administration.

‘Swansea, Notts County and Southend use our branches around the country and we’d love Pompey to be here.’

The site is equipped with two 11-a-side pitches, seven five-a-side pitches and one seven-a-side pitch.

The facilities are already used by Pompey’s under-sevens, under-eights and under-11s.

And Awford admitted the offer was under consideration.

He said: ‘We have a very good relationship with Roko and PlayFootball.

‘We would like to thank them and it’s an offer that can be considered.’