Paul Jones is set to start pre-season as Pompey's first-choice keeper - but boss Paul Cook has warned him no player is guaranteed to keep their place.
Cook says Jones and understudy Michael Poke are in the driving seat as far as the keeping positions in the squad go, but the same applies to them as to the whole squad - they will only keep their place if they perform to the required standard.
Cook told The News: ‘The goalkeepers are under as much pressure as everyone else. What they have got is the first shot at it. When you are holding a position down it is your job to keep it.
‘People will always say "Well I didn’t get this” or "I didn’t get that”, but the first person to blame if you don’t keep your place is yourself. Jonesie and Pokie are the two lads here at the club, we will go into pre-season with them.
‘However, it is not a threat when I say to players if I don’t feel people are at it you will be given a warning, you will be handed a yellow card, maybe even a yellow card or two. But eventually they will leave the club.
‘It’s not trying to rule with fear, the biggest fear I have is losing my job. If I was to lose my job not managing the way I see correct then I wouldn’t be a happy person. I believe in fitness and work ethic, and wanting to be the best player you can be is important. If you can get lads on side like that — and they have ability and talent — I think it takes care of itself.’
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