Kenny Jackett – who signed a two year deal when taking over at Pompey in the summer – put pen to paper on a contract extension ahead of the defeat at Peterborough on Tuesday.
Pompey CEO Mark Catlin told portsmouthfc.co.uk: ‘We were absolutely thrilled to be able to bring Kenny to Pompey this summer and with his fantastic work ethic and experience, the club continues to progress alongside many of the individual players in the squad. Kenny has bought into the project for the future of the club. We’re happy with him and he is happy here – it’s a great match for both parties.’
Michael Eisner is in little doubt Jackett is the right man to take us forward and felt it a ‘simple decision’ for all concerned to extend.
The chairman added: ‘We have been really impressed with the experience, knowledge, hard work and commitment Kenny brings to Pompey and as part of our long-term strategy and thinking, see him as an integral part of our on-field future. It was a simple decision for both parties to make.’
Meanwhile, Jackett himself said: ‘Pompey is a really special, incredible football club. The Chairman, Board and CEO all share a long-term vision of where the club is going and I want to be a part of that. When offered the opportunity to extend my contract it was a very simple decision to make and I am extremely excited about the future of PFC.’
I found this extension a little surprising to be honest.
Do not get me wrong, I’m in no hurry for Kenny to get his coat, but I’m not entirely sure, especially in this era of football where patience runs thin and things can change quickly, a further two year extension was needed?
However, this shows commitment to Jackett and proves he’s committed to a spell at Fratton Park so should bring some future continuity – all being well the boss will see out this deal, going beyond it, bringing continued success on the south coast.
Former Pompey striker Yakubu has called it a day though.
On the day he celebrates his 35th birthday, Yakubu’s fine football career has officially ended as the Nigerian has announced his retirement, having been without a club since a disastrous spell with Coventry last season.
During his time at Fratton, helping us to the Division One title and then scoring goals to keep us in the Premier League, Yakubu average a goal every other game for Pompey, which was also the case at Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester and Blackburn throughout his prolific spell in England.
In recent times Yakubu had spells in China and Turkey before a brief spell at Reading when he returned to England – he also trained with National League side Boreham Wood last season before joining Coventry in February, being released in April.
What a footballer he was. Yes, lazy as sin but when you score goals, the amount he did for Pompey, you get away with this and it will be forgotten. The Blues certainly got some of Yakubu’s best years, arguably the best of all from this spell in England?
PLAY UP POMPEY
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2017-18 Prediction League – November
Plymouth (h) Saturday 25th November 2017 – click here.
