Andy Awford may remain as Pompey boss, but the board’s experience has certainly come into question.
Supporters were vocal in after the boss decided to hook off Andy Barcham, who had impressed during the 2-1 defeat to Southend, as he brought on Ryan Taylor during the second half.
Chants of "You don’t know what you’re doing” were accompanied by boos at full time, in a game which chairman Iain McInnes dubbed a "must-win” in his programme notes.
The Blues had gone seven games without a win before kick-off, and the club figurehead’s words had poured hot water on to the fixture.
The manner of Pompey’s defeat summed up the club’s sorry on-field run over the past two months having last picked up all three points on November 22.
But it was the actions shortly after which gave the biggest indication of the direction which the once-proud club are heading in.
Having called an emergency meeting to discuss Awford’s future, rife speculation suggested the club legend’s day’s as full-time boss were coming to an end.
However, despite a run of one win from nine fixtures, the former Fratton defender has been handed extra time to turn the club’s on-field fortunes around.
Time will tell whether that is the correct decision for the board to make, however in my eyes, the only decision that has been made is that Awford’s uncertain future will continue.
Now, every Pompey fan — and manager, player and supporter of the Blues’ opponents — will know that Awford’s job hangs by a thread, adding only to the cauldron of pressure on the first-team set-up.
I’ve not spoken with one supporter who would want the manager to fail in his task to guide Pompey up the divisions — with many hoping that Awford be given the chance to learn from his own mistakes.
But with three points separating the club from relegation places to non-league football, the threat of demotion out of the Football League is a dangerous prospect and affording an inexperienced manager more time on the basis of sentimentality speaks of inexperience at levels much higher than the green grass and white lines.
Awford’s men have scored just seven goals in their past eight matches and, despite the signature of Matt Tubbs, the club’s on-field fortunes have not improved. Tubbs — a decent striker at this level — should by no means be expected to hit the ground running just three games after joining Pompey.
But to see the club playing the same style of football — despairingly uncreative and lacking in wide areas with no sign of any remedy — in such a sorry run can only add pressure to the Blues’ boss.
The board have now made their bed and must lie in it as Pompey travel to league leaders Wycombe on Saturday, before hosting Hartlepool at Fratton Park on February 7.
It has been well documented that the club must rebuild and learn together, in all aspects, since the Trust’s takeover and certainly since Awford’s full-time appointment.
However, how long can the club wait and see if this legend can turn it around, or worse, whether their Football League status is lost as a consequence of failing to make a difficult decision?
Time will tell.
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