Pompey are confident that their new approach to player purchases is the right one - and will pay off over time.

Andy Cullen has told The News the hunt for hidden gems has worked so far - and has given the Blues some real assets.

The chief executive told The News: ‘There are gems out there and it’s making sure you are doing your due diligence. We paid sums of money for Christian Saydee, Kusini Yengi, Terry Devlin and Anthony Scully this summer, plus Paddy Lane and Ryley Towler in January. That shows the intent.

‘It reflects the strategy, there is a real methodology and plan to it, recruiting young first-team ready players who are investments for the future. Christian had a really good season last year and comes in first-team ready, while others also have really, really good first-team experience and make the step up, becoming good investments.

‘A lot of work went into Terry (Devlin), we beat off competition to get him from a number of Premier League clubs which wanted him to come into their under-23 set-ups and be a development-type player.

‘However, the player wants to get first-team football as quickly as he can, so we beat off perhaps more attractive offers in terms of names to come to Pompey.

‘Anthony Scully went for big money to Wigan in the Championship, but, because of issues external to football, we found ourselves in a position where we could bring in a player who is very, very proven in League One.

‘Probably the wildcard was Kusini Yengi. Phil spent a lot of time watching the Australian A-League and identifying a few players who had British passports.

‘I won’t go into the fees, but they all represent good investment for Portsmouth Football Club. I think it’s fair to say that with four young players signed when aged 21 and below, plus Scully and Yengi, they are good assets.’

Read more on Neil Allen's interview with Andy Cullen at portsmouth.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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