PORTSMOUTH

Last season was a huge anticlimax. We should have replaced Kenny Jackett at the start of last season, and by the time we did in midMarch it was too late to take effect. The big talking point among the fans is letting so many contracts run down – 10 senior players were allowed to go on free transfers this summer, leaving us very thin. This season will be different to last

because it’s impossible to predict. We haven’t been good enough to go up, and half of that team have now left. If Danny Cowley weaves some transfer magic, then who knows?

I’ve really missed seeing mates you only see at football. Years in the same seat with many familiar faces – it’ll be like a big party when we’re allowed back. Instead of going to the football last season I gained promotion from Level 6 to 5 as a referee.

I won’t be happy unless we sign players willing to die for the badge. Our most underrated player is Paul Downing [ below]. It took him until three matches from the end of the season to get a kick in the league, then he had 179 minutes of glory.

The pantomime villain will be Max Power, who’s joined Wigan. Great name, massive wind- up merchant. The one change I’d make would be better pies at Fratton Park. Please...

The best thing about matchday at

Portsmouth is always the fantastic atmosphere under the lights.

The ground I’m most looking

forward to visiting is Hillsborough – I’ve never been and am looking forward to that one.

Our key player will be John Marquis [ above]. If we can get him a partner, he can be unstoppable on his day. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that we’ve not seen him playing with his own team yet. Personally, I think Danny and Nicky Cowley are a real breath of fresh air together and will get the time to build, thankfully.

We’ll finish mid- table at this rate. I think it’s a season of transition for us, and if we make the play- offs we will have done well. Hard to see that right now, though...