Pompey have spelled out just how set they are on making sure they don't miss promotion again next season.

Chief executive Mark Catlin has given an honest appraisal of how important it is the club make the leap to League One next time around.

Speaking as Paul Cook strengthens the side for another crack at a top-three finish, Catlin told The News: 'If you’re Portsmouth in League Two your target is promotion. Your target has to be promotion. Now ultimately we didn’t achieve that target, however, there was a massive improvement on previous seasons.

‘Everyone has a target. We have a commercial target. We have season-ticket sales target. You don’t always hit them but you can end up at a figure you are content and happy with. It’s no different on the pitch.

‘We make no bones about it. Everyone at the football club from the chairman to the board of directors, fans and staff, Cookie and players — the target was promotion. We’re unified in that.

‘I’m not trying to put any extra pressure on the manager, but if you’re Portsmouth in League Two you have to start the season with the target as promotion. Whether you get there or not is judged at the end of the season, but it has to be the target.’

He added: ‘What you’re looking for ultimately when all is said and done is improvement. When you ask me, the target has to be promotion but as chief executive you are looking for improvement.

‘If we keep improving year on year, as I’m sure we will under Paul we’ll ultimately achieve that aim. All I know is and Paul will say the same is we’re looking to continually improve as a club. It has to be the goal. Yes, you want to improve but the target has to be promotion. Everyone knows that.’

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