Jackett's first season judged - and second will be part of verdict
Sunday, 3rd Jun 2018 20:28 by pompey-fans.com staff

Kenny Jackett's first season was a success - and will be seen in even rosier terms if Pompey go on to grab a top six place next season.

So says Mark Catlin, who insists the Pompey hierachy were delighted to finish eighth in the first season under a new owner and new manager but will want to build on it next term and not go backwards.

CEO Catlin told The News: ‘Kenny’s done amazingly well. There were peaks and troughs through the year. Good performances and bad performances. But the table doesn’t lie and we finished eighth — just outside the play-offs.

‘You have to judge that on merit, and, on merit, that was deemed to be a successful season. But we are Pompey and our aspirations are high, and I’m sure Kenny will be looking to improve on it next season.

‘I did feel this season was a potential minefield for us in terms of new ownership, new manager, new players, new style and new league.

‘All businesses don’t react well to change. When you get changes of ownership and business it can be turbulent, as we’ve seen at clubs in our division. I think we navigated all that very well.

‘It is still tinged with disappointment we didn’t make the play-offs, given it was within our grasp for a long time. Whether this season is the success we thought it was will depend on how we kick on next season.

‘This can be seen as a great base for Kenny to work out the pros and cons of the squad and where to improve — which he will be supported in. If we go from eighth and don’t achieve highs it may not have been the success we thought it was. But, judged on merit now, it has to be deemed a success.’