Catlin: No player has said they want to go
Continued from back page ‘Overall, it’s probably going to be down 40-50 per cent – and all clubs are in the same position.
‘In regards of new contracts and new players, you are guided by that.
‘We are now governed by SCMP, so all players at all clubs need to be realistic about that.
‘I don’t see why that would be deemed as being controversial, that’s a fact – and we have been honest, open, and transparent with players about that situation.
‘I have spoken to our players, they understand it, the agents understand it, everyone understands it.
‘Hopefully, in the summer, we get clear guidance that fans are going to be returning.
‘Then the turnover goes up, so our capacity to offer an improved contract also increases.
‘That’s life, it’s the economic environment we live in.’
It is known that Pompey have 12-month options on Close, Cannon, Mnoga and Turnbull.
Although, conceivably, there could be others, whose contract terms have not been made public.
Catlin added: ‘I keep reading about how many players are out of contract.
‘Well, with a good proportion of those, we have options, so we either exercise the option or we don’t.
‘Why would you exercise that option now?
‘You need to wait until the end of the season, which is the agreed date, before exercising the option. Then do it.
‘While the EFL are working with clubs on agreeing a formula to SCMP, there’s very little we can say to players because we just don’t know, no club knows.
‘And I have not spoken to one player who has said to me they are looking to leave in the summer.’
WHILE Pompey finally have a Tuesday night off for the first time in 11 weeks, two of their rivals for a play-off spot are in action tonight.
Blackpool, currently
10th, are at home to highflying Peterborough, while 11th-placed Oxford are away to relegation-threatened Northampton.
The Seasiders and the U’s are both two points behind seventh-placed Pompey, although Blackpool have two games in hand whereas Oxford have played the same number of matches.