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There's no reason to expect a Pompey exodus

Enda Stevens, Michael Doyle and Liam O'Brien may have moved on - but don't expect too many more Pompey departures.

So says Gareth Evans, who has signed a new deal himself and expects others who have not already to do the same.

He says the squad have become very tight-knit towards the end of the season and he senses that most players want to stay to be part of the League One adventure.

Evans was particularly pleased to hear Kyle Bennett had penned a new contract. Evans told The News: 'I’ve just been away with a lot of the lads and they are keen to stay at this football club. It’s just a case of getting things tied down. If we can keep the majority here there’s no reason we can’t kick on next season.

‘Hopefully there’s more to come after me because the ability is there. I really feel the squad has become more closely knit. If I’m honest, it feels that the group has really come together more over the past two or three months.

‘That’s been seen in the spirit. We’re a good group who all really get on well together. So I’d like to see the majority stay together — and I believe that’s going to be the case.

‘I was delighted to see Benno sign. Obviously it’s disappointing to lose players of the calibre of Enda and Doyler, though. I’ve played with Benno for the past couple of years. We have clicked really well and we get on well.'

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