‘I know he’s willing to do hard yards you need’

‘I always enjoy chats with scouts late at night and always think: “Who can I talk football with?”

‘I’ve usually spoken to Nicky all day about football so in the evening, scouts are usually travelling on the way home from games.

‘I spoke to Mark Tracy at Lincoln, who’s a great scout, and he said to me that he sees Phil every week, at every game.

‘That made me feel at ease straight away because I know he’s willing to do the hard yards you need to.

‘You get a lot of recruitment guys who want to watch clips on WyScout.

‘While there is a place for it, there is no substitute for me other than to get to games live, watch the warm-ups and the behaviour.’

Cowley now has to make it clear to Boardman about the sort of players he will be looking for in the summer if his short-term deal at Fratton Park is extended.

He added: ‘Naturally, when a new manager comes in, we have different requirements for the players we need to fit our game model.

‘Once you’ve got a really clear identity and game model, the two become much clearer.

‘We know exactly what we want from our right-back, exactly what attributes from a number eight, exactly what we want from a left-winger etc.

‘It’s not always what you like to watch, it’s what you need and the team needs.

‘It’s trying to find the players to fit our model.’

■ Ex-Pompey defender Joe Hancott has signed for Bognor.

The left-back announced his Fratton Park departure earlier this week after 12 years with the club.

Hancott, who became the youngest player in the Blues’ post-war history in August 2017, made three appearances for Pompey in total.

However, an ACL injury he suffered in October 2019 sidelined the Isle of Wight talent for the best part of 18 months before leaving PO4 after making a full recovery.

Now he’s been snapped up by Bognor ahead of next term, having spent time on loan at Nyewood Lane in the past.

He said: ‘I am really looking forward to joining up with the lads and playing for Bognor next season. Having spent time attheclubIsawwhatitwasall about and love the approach.

‘I’ve also chatted with Dan Smith and Ethan Robb (who both joined Bognor after being released by Pompey and now play for Eastleigh and Brentford respectively) and seen how they have progressed and I am ready to give it another go.

‘I definitely have some unfinished business and believe I have a lot to offer.’