Pompey’s plight over the past few months has cast mixed views on Andy Awford’s future.

The Fratton faithful remain at loggerheads over whether the club legend should retain his role as manager after the club made it six games without a win.

Despite a resolute performance at Newport on Saturday, which culminated in controversial defeat after referee Michael Bull failed to award Jed Wallace a “stonewall” penalty (in his words), and gave County an unconvincing winner, many supporters question Awford’s future.

The Blues notched their last win on November 22, a 3-0 win over Morecambe to whet the appetites of fans who may have been forgiven for thinking that the tide was about to turn for their beloved club.

However, four defeats (two at Fratton Park) and two draws have left the club hovering just six places and five points above the relegation zone.

The decision to terminate Miles Storey’s contract early, plus allowing Lee Holmes to leave and sending namesake Ricky on loan to Northampton had left many, myself included, questioning Awford’s plan for the January transfer window.

The boss responded, bringing in goal-hungry striker Matt Tubbs from AFC Bournemouth in a move which adds a natural finisher to the ranks and highlights the major transfer pull that Pompey have over their League Two opponents.

However, the club’s on-field problems stem from a much bigger problem than who is in the final third — the directness of Pompey’s wing-play remaining a major concern of mine, with just Jed Wallace and Andy Barcham remaining as threats on the flanks.

Operations in wide areas have left plenty to be desired as many occupying the flanks have failed to deliver regular, accurate balls into dangerous areas, causing the likes of Ryan Taylor and, when available, Patrick Agyemang to play much deeper. Storey’s assist to Wallace against Morecambe — a wonderful outside-boot cross to the youngster - saw one of the finest pieces of play from the left we’d seen all season.

Wallace capitalised once again from Storey’s dominance in the wide areas as he lashed home Pompey’s third but, since that moment, all five of Pompey’s goals have come from the middle of the park.

Jed’s deflected strike at Tranmere, a fine strike from Marcus Bean and Craig Westcarr’s lob against Stanley, Nigel Atangana’s delectable finish against Cheltenham and Ryan Taylor’s close-range bundle at Luton have made up the Blues’ post-Morecambe goals.

Thirteen days into the transfer window, Awford has yet to acquire any natural wide-men to add versatility to the squad, despite a heavy link with former Havant and Waterlooville winger Alfie Potter, who has been told he can leave Oxford by former Pompey boss Michael Appleton.

But, in Awford we trust. Or, I certainly do, for now. For those of you who follow me on Twitter (@DanBrett90, for a shameless plug), you’ll notice that I’ve been critical of the manager’s approach over the past few months and, on occasions, have called for his head as manager.

However, looking at it away from the emotions of match-day, it would make little sense for the club to change things around at this stage of the season, as just over half of this window remains and Awford’s contract remains up for renewal in just a few months’ time.

It’s the five-point gap from the drop which will worry many fans, fearing relegation into non-league football, and it’s that criticism that must motivate Awford if he’s to see his tenure past the summer.

He has the time to turn it around and, let’s face it, there are very few names that can inspire a revival at this level. Gary Waddock, possibly? An interesting inclusion to replace fan favourite Alan McLoughlin as number two (in a decision which still astounds me).

But what more could Waddock do that Awford can’t? Not a lot — it’s the same bunch of players but, at least for now, the majority of support back Awfs and I don’t think I’ve spoken to one Pompey supporter who doesn’t want him to succeed.

We all knew what we were getting ourselves in for just eight months ago as Awford took up the full-time role. It’s an amateur manager at a largely inexperienced football club (at boardroom level, since the Trust takeover, I mean) — therefore, we’re all learning together.

The manager isn’t picking up momentum-led wins any longer and, after his first transfer window, has left a lot to be desired from those he’s retained and those who have come into the fold as he has struggled to recapture the form of yesteryear against last weekend’s opponents.

Three weeks remain for him to dip into the market, mould the squad which he thinks can ensure another season of Football League occupancy — or better — and then see where the club decide to go from there.

Keep the faith. From me, firmly for now, it’s #AwfordIn. He's one of our own.

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