Pompey have often been accused of putting all their eggs in one basket - the team - and not doing anything to strengthen the wider club. But few could level that charge against those presently in charge.

All the right noises have been made recently about young players and how they will be given a chance - and now the club are talking of introducing a development squad to link the first XI and the academy side.

It's something new manager Kenny Jackett is keen on and seems ideally-placed to oversee and chief executive Mark Catlin told The News the squad could be in place as soon as the season after next.

He told the paper: 'What we want to do moving forward — and we don’t want to put a time-frame on it — is have a development squad where the clue’s in the name. It has to be about the development of players for the long-term future of Portsmouth Football Club. To do that properly it requires a dedicated manager, assistant manager, structure and funding.

‘It’s not something which will happen overnight — it will take a lot of planning. ‘I would argue it’s a year in the planning. That’s in scouting the players you want to bring in, selecting a coach and the organisation. There’s a lot of investment needed to make it a fully functioning, self-sustaining squad.

‘Next season is too soon but with regard to the season after, it won’t be. If you look at Kenny’s history, he has a fantastic record of signing players, developing them and making them better. He has outstanding contacts around London with the big clubs and their development squads who he’s worked with. He’s highly regarded and it will be easy for him to attract those type of players to Portsmouth.’

Fans will be delighted to hear of the plans, with many having bemoaned for a long time the lack of any plan for the infrastructure of the club which will help it sustain itself during a rise through the divisions.

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