Pompey on the up: Cook, Catlin, Doyle, Lowe, Naismith and Knight give their verdict
Tuesday, 18th Apr 2017 20:49 by pompey-fans.com staff

After four long seasons in League Two, Pompey are up. League One is calling and it is still sinking in for some.

In the 24 hours since they clinched their elevation with a 3-1 win at Notts County, every man and his dog have had their say about Pompey's promotion. But here's what's been said by some the main characters in the story.

Pompey boss Paul Cook told the club website: 'I’m delighted. We’ve been here for the best part of two years now with the aim of getting this club promoted. I can still remember the pain of that play-off defeat at Plymouth last season, so to see the fans celebrating like they did is something that will remain with me for a long time. Our supporters are — without doubt — as vociferous, passionate and loyal as you will ever get. If we had to play a game to stay in this league then you would have still got four or five thousand turning up. That goes without saying. I’ve always backed the players and these boys have become instant heroes of Portsmouth Football Club — I’m thrilled for them all. This club has been put on the floor, but we’re not on the floor anymore. That’s great for everyone. It’s not about me. It’s just a great night for this club and we should all take stock and realise that we’ve all had a part to play. Now we’re a League One team and one that wants to get back into the Championship.'

Pompey skipper Michael Doyle told the club website: 'We’re a fan-owned club, so it was special to see the joy on their faces and they deserve that. We were always going to have that level of support and I’m delighted that so many of them were here to see it. There have been so many disappointments, but they helped save this football club, so let them enjoy it. We’re fortunate enough to be able to go out and represent them on the pitch, although that comes with a lot of pressure. But the lads have taken that on their shoulders after falling just short last season and got us over the line. I’m looking forward to Saturday now and being able to celebrate with the fans at Fratton Park. We’ve got something special going here and we’re going to embrace the challenge of competing in League One next season.'

Meadow Lane goal hero Jamal Lowe told the website: 'We were under a bit of pressure, but they were getting tired and I was coming on fresh to provide a bit of energy. It was a sigh of relief when my first goal went in because we knew the score at Luton and the second was just the icing on the cake. It’s the best feeling in the world. To come off the bench, score twice and win promotion — I’m buzzing. I couldn’t have written that better myself. It’s been a great week, month and season for me. It’s been positive after positive and stuff keeps happening to me. I said that once I got my first goal, they’d keep coming. I was playing in the Ryman Premier Division last season and now I’m going into League One — I can’t ask for anything better.'

Chief executive Mark Catlin told The News: ‘You don’t want to be too presumptuous, there was probably a better than average chance we weren’t going to achieve promotion. Results had to go our way, with us needing to go to Notts County and win, which was always a difficult task. But you always try to think that little ahead and I spoke to Tom Jeffes, head of hospitality and events, on Sunday and mentioned how, in the event of getting promotion, the fans would be coming home in high spirits. So what better way than to celebrate with the players upon their return? It was an absolute credit to everyone associated with the football club how it came together with very, very little notice. There wasn’t any objection from a single person associated with the football club and that’s a great culture we have now instilled into the players and staff. Ultimately the fans buy into that and that is why, even after four years in League Two, attendances have continued to rise and everything off the pitch has gone so well. Some people take Paul for granted. He is very much a fan himself and in a lot of cases what happened would not have been deemed professional, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong, it’s different views and opinions. Football has gone off in the direction that the fans and players have become separate entities — when they should be one.’

The Legend, Alan Knight, told The News: 'What a brilliant effort from everyone involved, on and off the pitch, and those wonderful fans who have had to put up with a lot over the years now wear a smile. For me it was the fifth promotion since associated with the club — and first I have been able to savour sober! Hopefully, there will be another two to add to that before I am done.'

Kal Naismith, who won the penalty that got Pompey in front at Notts County, told The News: ‘Saturday will be special. ‘Every game in the run-in will be special with the celebrations and, hopefully, we can put in a few decent performances. Regardless of what happens, the fans’ will be in full voice and will be a party from now on. Us players will never go into a game thinking “we’re up, we don’t need to win”. Every single game you want to win. ‘If we finish second, happy days. If we don’t, I don’t really care.’