Getting stuck in the third tier is defining Eisner’s Blues reign
To Brett Pitman’s eternal irritation, Pompey never reached the play-offs in the campaign he plundered a remarkable 25 goals.
The 2017-18 season represented one of consolidation following a hard-earned return to League One, also with a new manager at the helm after Paul Cook’s controversial walkout.
However, to this day Pitman reasons his outstanding haul should have been sufficient to power Kenny Jackett’s men into the top six, rather than the eighth spot they subsequently claimed.
The present day is eerily reminiscent, with Pompey’s uncomfortable reliance on Colby Bishop and his 23 goals positioning them eighth with two matches remaining – and the play-offs already out of reach.
Over the ensuing five years since Pitman’s feat, the Blues have never finished outside League One’s top 10, won the Checkatrade Trophy in 2019 (after beating Sunderland on penalties in a dramatic final), reached Wembley in another final (losing on penalties to Salford City in the 2020 Papa Johns Trophy which was played in 2021), and twice got to the play-off semi-finals (losing to Sunderland in 2019 and Oxford United in 2020).
Yet no promotion to the Championship. Not even as much as a play-off game victory (Pompey lost 1-0 away to Sunderland and drew 0-0 at home, while both games against Oxford the following year ended in 1-1 draws before Blues lost the second leg on penalties).
While unquestionably there has been progress in terms of essential – and welcome – investment into infrastructure at both Fratton Park and the training ground, their reign is defined by on-pitch frustration.
Pompey chairman Michael Eisner, a man not prone to grandiose statements, told The News in April 2017: ‘Yes it would be great if Portsmouth didn’t just get to the Premier League but stayed in the Premier League.
‘Although I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, that could take a decade – it is not going to happen overnight.’
Next season marks Tornante’s seventh as Pompey owners – and the club remains entombed in League One.
There are those who will never be convinced about the Eisners, others voted in favour of the takeover yet have since re-evaluated, now regretting their decision.
Nonetheless, Tornante have ploughed £28m into Pompey, of which £12m has been allocated to essential Fratton Park improvements and £3m used to buy their Copnor Road training ground – and never taken a penny out.
Despite the challenges of Covid, which significantly impacted all clubs outside the Premier League, the Blues are debt free and not burdened with a single loan.
Plenty of reasons to applaud the current ownership, yet the most damning indictment of the Tornante era to date remains the failure to steer the club out of League One. After all, football is why we’re all here.
During their time, the owners have demonstrated uncharacteristic patience in football towards their managers/head coaches, allowing them to spend whatever transfer fees are brought in, while have consistently increased the playing budget, especially over the last few years.
Following Andy Cullen’s appointment in May 2021, the chief executive has overseen a club structure change in pursuit of success, with Rich Hughes arriving as sporting director six months ago and John Mousinho granted his maiden managerial position.
Yet here we are, in the past week slipping out of the play-off frame following a draw against an Oxford United side without a win in 17 matches and a lacklustre 1-0 victory over relegationthreatened Accrington.
There was a time when former chief executive Mark Catlin would proudly declare consistent rises in seasonal league placings as evidence of progress, yet Pompey have finished eighth and 10th immediately before this term.
Elsewhere, the academy continues to be much-maligned, representing a Guildhall pledge that Eisner has clearly failed to honour.
It remains Category 3 status, lacks the pathway of a development group and is struggling to produce suitable first-team talent.
The North Stand vision, central to increasing Fratton Park capacity and driving improved revenue streams, will not be built in League One, a stance the ownership have never deviated from in recent years.
In April 2022, Pompey director Andy Redman told The News: ‘Could it be built if we’re in the Championship?
‘It’s a hard one to answer. It would depend on ticket demand and things like that, but, as a general answer, no.
‘Based on the average of what is happening in the Championship right now, no we couldn't do it, even though we are not an average club.
‘You would need to be in the Premier League.’
Michael Eisner said to The News in November 2022: ‘The renovated North Stand could be built in the Championship, but we have to be up in the Championship and competitive, like we are now. Not if we are a yo-yo team.’
As for Mousinho’s playing budget, it is believed to be higher than League One leaders Plymouth and lower than 20th-placed Oxford – and likely to be around the seventh or eighth biggest in the division, despite the oftused ‘mid-table budget’ misnomer.
As ever, the right man in charge and the right recruitment is key.
Incidentally, while the current head coach is mocked as a ‘cheap option’ by some, table-topping Plymouth’s boss Steven Schumacher was previously their assistant, while second-placed Ipswich have Kieran McKenna in charge, formerly Manchester United first-team coach – with both enjoying their first management jobs.
Let’s not underestimate Mousinho’s instant impact either.
He inherited a team languishing in 15th position and without a league win in three months, and has since steered them to an impressive 35 points from 21 matches so far.
With this season written off for Pompey, attention turns to another essential summer squad overhaul.
The indications are Tornante will sanction an improved budget for Mousinho to launch the latest promotion bid.
Yet worrying match-day apathy and the emergence of fan group PFC Coalition reflect growing disillusionment among a fan base losing faith in their owners fulfilling that Championship prophecy.
Back to the interview Eisner gave to The News in April 2017, ahead of a Guildhall address designed to earn him the vote of Portsmouth Supporters’ Club members to sanction a Blues takeover.
‘If the club’s goal is staying in League One or League Two, having it run at break even at a very low player acquisition cost, a very slow fixing of Fratton Park, maybe slightly improving the academy, but know that will not take you to the Championship or Premier League – there is nothing wrong with that goal,’ he said.
‘For that goal they don’t need me.
‘But if the goal is to move up and be a challenger to get into the Championship and a challenger to get into the Premier League, then it looks to me like the club needs outside financing from someone.’