PITMAN CAN BE CHERRY ON CAKE
Pompey striker sees parallel with Bournemouth
BRETT Pitman knows all about the journey from League Two to the Premier League – and sees no reason why Portsmouth can’t emulate south coast rivals Bournemouth and finally return to the top flight of English football.
Now back in the third tier after promotion last term, Portsmouth seem to have emerged from the darkness that surrounded the club for so long.
Their plight, from the glitz and glamour of FA Cup finals to the depths of despair in the bottom half of League Two, is well-documented.
But they have entered into the light with a title-winning campaign under their belt and former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner as owner.
Now, they can start attracting players, rather than selling, and Pitman is an example of that after the 29-year-old swapped Ipswich Town for life back on the south coast this summer.
Pitman is synonymous with Bournemouth, where he scored 93 goals in two spells on their way to the Premier League.
Even though the situations are different, Pitman sees a steely determination at Fratton Park to climb the leagues again. “You’re well aware the club has been through tough times,” he said. “I’ve been through it before at Bournemouth and it’s never nice. It’s good for Portsmouth to come out the other side, like it was for Bournemouth.
“Hopefully we can go some way to emulating what Bournemouth have done.
Spearhead
“There are probably certain similarities, but Portsmouth came down from the Premier League and probably hit as low as they could go, whereas Bournemouth were starting in League One and League Two and had financial problems, but built themselves back up.
“There are similarities but there are also a lot of differences. I think Portsmouth will look to do it their own way.”
If Pompey are going to fly up the leagues, then they need experienced players spearheading their charge, and new manager Kenny Jackett wasted no time in making Pitman captain.
The Jersey-born forward has already started to pay him back, netting twice on the opening day of the season as Pompey powered to a 2-0 win against Rochdale.
“Being made captain was kind of a surprise,” he added. “I’d spoken to the manager briefly before and he said he was going to look around the squad and see what he thought he had.
“He spoke to people that had worked with me before and they obviously told him I was up to the job, and it’s something I’m proud to be given.
“I won’t change on the pitch, anyway. If something needs to be said, I’ll say it if I’m captain or not.”
It is hardly headline making when Portsmouth have new owners, but the idea of former Disney boss Eisner in charge certainly captured the imagination – although Pitman insists the players just get on with it.
“To be honest, players don’t really take much notice of things like that,” he said.
“I don’t think players are too fussed who the owners are.
“It’s nice to meet them and hear what they have to say, and how they see the club going forward, but I don’t think it really affects you on the pitch.
“We’ve all met them and they’re all keen to interact with the players.
“I don’t think they’re going to come in and throw silly money at new players – they’re going to build from the bottom upwards.
“They’re going to do bits and pieces to the stadium and to the training ground, and they’re going to work their way up – it’s a good time to be here.”